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HARVARD
COLLEGE
LIBRARY

LUTHER'S

LETTERS TO WOMEN.

Collected by V / . 7 - ' "v

\^<. / !•"' - ■-- •

DR. K. ZIMMERMANN.

Translated by

MRS. MALCOLM.

LONDON:

CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICCADILLY.

1865.

AiarvardN

IuniversityI

library i

I MAR 5 mi J

LOHDOV:

TiKVEY AND CO., PRINTERS, GREAT NEW 8TRKKT

FETTER LANE, B.C.

PKEFACE.

These Letters of Luther, collected by Dr. K. Zim-
mermann, and given by him as a Whitsuntide
offering to the German Protestant woman-world,
I now present as a Christmas gift to the women
of England.

Among them a few, perhaps, may be looked
upon as trifling, others as curious and interesting,'
whilst some are beautiful ; but all bear testimony
to the simple, earnest faith, deep piety, and loving
heart of this great and good man, showing how
his religion was interwoven with his every-day
life, and that his family affections were particu-
larly strong. His Will has been introduced by
Dr. Zimmermann as a further proof " that the
man who stood at the head of his time did not
forRet his household ties."

In Luther's character were marvellously com-
bined the most opposite qualities — dignity and
s with simplicity and playfulnesa; bit-

iv Preface.

terness and severity with long-suffering and cha-
rity; sternness with gentleness and tenderness.
There may occasionally be found in the Letters
a certain degree of coarseness ; which must not
be regarded as peculiar to Luther, but as belong-
ing to the times in which he lived.

I venture to bring this little book before the
English public in the hope that it may prove of
some use, in this age of weak and wavering faith,
by recalling to the memory, the character and
writings of one who has left so bright an example
of the power of that steadfast faith which is " the
victory that overcometh the world/'

CONTENTS.

PAGE

L To Mabgabet Dl'ciu:ss of Brunswick

IL To THREE BAIOSHED COLRT DaHSELS

ni. To A Noble Lady in a Convent

IV. To some Nxjns ....

V. To Katherine Schutzin .

VI. To Maria Queen of Hungary .

Vll. To J?'rau Dorothea Jorger

V lU. To Else von Kanitz .

. 23

IX. To Elizabeth, Wife of Agricola

X. To Frau Felicitas von Selmenttz

XI. To Margaret N

XII. To Frau Goritzin . . . .

XIII. To HIS Wife . . . . .

XTV. To Katherine Hornung .

XV. To the Wife of J. Jonas .

XVI. To his Wife

}l\n. To HTS Wife

XVm. To HIS Wife

XIX. To the Wife of Matthew Zell

Ul. To Barbara Lischnerin

vi Contents,

LETTER PAGE

XXI. To HIS Mother 57

XXII. To HIS Wife . . . . .64

XXin. To Frau Dorothea Jorger . . 68

XXIV. To Frau von Stockhausen . . 71

XXV. To Frau Jorger .... 73

XXVI. To Frau Jorger .... 75

XXVII. To the Abbess of Hervord, in West-

• phalia. Written together with

Melancthon .... 78

XX Vm. To Frau Jorger . . . .81

XXIX. To his Wife . . . . .83

XXX. To an Unknown Person . .85

XXXI. To Frau Jorger .... 87

XXXII. To the same 89

XXXIII. To the same . . .91

XXXIV. To HIS Wife 93

XXXV. To AN Unknown Person ... 95

XXXVI. To the Duchess Elizabeth of Bruns-

WICK . . . . . , \j t

XXXVn. To Ursula Schneidewin, at Stoll-

BERG 99

XXXVm. To THE same 102

XXXIX. To THE Duchess Katherine of Saxony 105
XL. To Dorothea, the Wife of B. Mack-

enrot, at Rossla, Luther's Sister 107
XLI. To the Duchess Elizabeth of Bruns-
wick 109

XLII. TotheDuchessKatherine OF Saxony 111

XLIIL TohisWife 113

124

liIV, To THE SAME .....
XV. To THE SAME

BXLVI. LuTHEit'a Will ....
XLVII. To THE Widow of J. Cellarius

XLVm. TOONEHNENOWN ....

iLlX. TotheElectressElizabethofBrand-
EHUURG
L. To THE SAME
LT. To THE Electress Sibylla of Saxont
Ln. To THE SAME
LTTI. To THE Wife of Jerome Baomgart-
SER, AT Nprehbebo
LIV. To Fkau Jokger ....
LV. To THE SAME
LVI. To TEE Wiuow OP Geogqe Schulzen
LVII. To AN Aged Couple
LVIII, To HIS Wife

LIX. To THE SAME

LX. To THE SAME .....

I LXI. To THE SAME

^I. To THE SAME

. To THE SAME

THE SAME

fitttr's fcttcis U lOnrL

To Margant Drndege of BnuawUk.
December 1519.

Latlm- de£e>tBB te Ae Dodms, wlio vrw ray fh-
Tom^Je to tfae bcw idigMas nonatoit, aome imtingft.
whieli in the lettor be odb aenncMis.

To my gracious lady, her Sere»e B'i^^nt«t and
kigh-bom Princess FrauMarffartita, horn Von
RiAeree, Dveiess o/Brvnsipick and LuttebHriff
I, Martin Lulher, Artgvsliner at Wtitenherjf,
hy the help of ait Ood's pood gifts to me, pre-
sent Qod's grace and peace in Christ onr Lord

HlQH-BORN Princess and gracious Lady,—
some of my good friends. Fatlicrs and Siipo-
riors, have suggested to me to dedicate some-

Luther's Letters to Women.

thing spiritual and Christian to your Princely
Grace, that I may thus thankfully acknow-
ledge the gracious condescension and favour
that your Princely Grace shows towards my
unworthy self, and thus tender you my hum-
ble service. To this I have often felt bound
in duty, yet have been deterred by the feel-
ing of my own insufficiency to fulfil this de-
sire and duty, especially as I bold it certain
that our Master, Christ, has been beforehand
with me in the instruction of your Princely
Grace. I have, however, at last allowed my-
self to be moved by your Princely Grace's
devotion to the Holy Scriptures, of which I
have heard much, to cause to be dedicated
to your Princely Grace some sermons on the
holy, venerated, and comfortable sacraments
of Repentance,^ of Baptism,^ and of the most
sacred Body f seeing that there are so many
troubled and anxious consciences, as I myself
have experienced, who do not recognise the

' Walch, Luther's Worig, n. p. 147S.
* Id. X. p. 2592.

' Id. xix. p. 522. Zimmeraiann, Luthrs Refm-m
Writings, i. p. 392.

To Margaret Duchess of Bnmswich. 3

holy and full grace of the sacraments, nor
know how to avail themselves of thera ; tut
endeavour presumptuously to satisfy them-
selves with their own works, rather than seek
God's favour and peace in the holy sacraments.
Thus, by man's teaching, the holy sacraments
have been veiled and withdrawn from us. I
beg your Princely Highness will graciously
accept this my small service, and not be
angry at my presumption ; for I am at all
times ready submissively to serveyour Princely
Grace, whom I commend to God both here
1 hereafter. Amen.

4 Luther's Letters to Women.

To three banished Court Damsels.
Jum IS, 1523.

Duke Henry of Saicoiiy, though not hiniBelf nn-
fovour&ble to the Reformer, had, from fear of his
brother Duke George, Luther'a mortal enemy, banished
three Court damaels, because Luther'a writings had been
found^in their possession. Oq hearing this, Luth»
sends fnetn this letter of eumfort.

To the honourable, virtuous damsels Hannah von
Draschwitz, Milia von OUnitz, and Ursula
van Feilitsin, my special friends in Christ.

Grace and peace in Christ to you,
honourable, virtuous, and dear damsels. Herr
Nicholas von Arasdorf^ has acquainted rae
with the trouble and contumely that you

' Nicholas von Amsilorf was one of the first and
most aealous adherents of Luther. After being pro-
fessor at Wittenberg, he became Buperintentlent at
Magdeburg, then Biabop of Naumburg, He died super-
intendent at Eisenach.

To three bam,i$hed Court Damsels.

have experienced at the court at Freiberg'
ou account of my books, and has also desired
me to write you a letter of consolation.
Although I consider you do not require com-
fort from me, — and am, besides, disinclined to
write to persons unknown to me, — yet I did
not know how to refuse him.

In the first place, it is my earnest request
that you will set your hearts at rest, and
neither do nor wish any thing evil to those
who have ill-used you. A a St. Paul teaches,
in the 4th chap. Corinthians, 1 2th verse, —
" Being reviled, we bless." Also, Christ says,
in Matthew, 5th chap. 44th verse, " Bless them
that curse you ; do good to them that hate
you ; and pray for them which despitefully
use you and persecute you." Thus do, con-
sidering that you are enlightened by the
grace of God, and they are blind and stub-
bom ; also that they do more injury to their
own souls than all the world can do to them.
You are, indeed, only too well revenged on
them for acting unjustly towards you, as thus
they rage and horribly rebel against God :
' The Duke's court waa held at Freiberg.

it is rather fitting that you should pity them
as mad, unthinking men, who do not see
how deplorably they ruin themselves when
they think to do you an injury. Wait, and
let Christ act ; He will richly recompeiiBe
your disgrace, and raise you higher than
you could wish, if you will only leave all to
Him.

And even if you should feel in your con-
science that you have given ground for this
treatment, you need not therefore despair ;
for it is a dear and good token that you have
received Christ in repentance. Remember,
also, that if you would do any thing against
them, you could effect nothing ; for it is a
godly matter for which you suffer, which
God will allow no one but Himself to judge
or avenge, as He says by the prophet Zaccha-
riuB, 2d chap. 8th verse : " Whoever toucheth
you toucheth the apple of my eye."

I can well believe that the poor blind-
head. Dr. Wolf Stehhn,^ is master there ;
but he will be placed under another sentence
than he thinks, and, alas, will become con-
' An otherwise little-known enemy of LutUer'a views.

To three banished Court Damsels. 7

scious of it all too soon. Do thus, mj dear
sisters, and keep your friends to the same ;
so will Grod's grace and peace be with you.
Amen.

Take my letter in good part.

Martinus Luther.

nur$day after Viius^a-day^
1523.

Luther's Letters to Women.

To a Noble Lady in a Convent.
December 14, 1323.

TLo occasion for this letter is showu by its con tents.

Grace to you and peace, honourable and
dear maiden Hannah. I have received your
letter ; and, aa you desired, I have diligently
helped to promote your projected marriage,
both through Hen- S. von K. and others who
might desire advice, that it may be brought
to a right and just end. God knows, that as
far as in me lies, I would willingly aid any
one in much smaller matters, if I were ca-
pable of it. I hear — not unwillingly — that
you are disposed towards the married state-
But I cannot conscientiously decide on such
matters, being absent. For as it concerns
more than one person, God has forbidden us
to judge on the solicitation of one party ;
and herein, like yourself, I regard neither
noble nor plebeian. One man is as worthy

To a NiAte Lad^ m a Gowsmt.

as another, if they have only mutual inclina-
tion and love, so that the £nl One may not
deceive them.

Have no douht, therefore, should it
happen that I am near, or am asked con-
cerning it, that I will say the best for it, and
erery where help to promote what is right
and just. For as I discover that you have
a desire for it, if no injury should occur to
any one else by it, it shall be on my part
unopposed and unhindered. Only see that
you seek God's blessing, and that you are
moved not alone by idle worldly love, but by
his gi-ace and favour ; for I wish you to be
united with your dear lover in Hia grace.
Amen.

Martincs Ldther.

Wittenberg,
lay lifter Luaa, 1523.

LETTER IV.

To some Nuns. August 6, 1524.

Advice aa to leaving tlie Convent.

To the Independent Nuns, my dear Sisters in
Christ, a friendly letter.

[1 Luther's Letters to Women.

Grace to you, and peace in Christ Jeaus
our Saviour. I have from time to time received
your letters, and entered into your troubles,
and would long ago have given an answer, if
I I had been moved thereto, and had a mes-

i senger been at hand ; but I had in other

^^M ways much to do. First, have you rightly
^^B understood that there are two grounds for
^^^ abandoning convent life and vows % one is,
where the regulations of men and convent
work are compulsory, and not voluntary, and
the conscience is thereby burdened ; this is the
time when one should escape, and leave the
convent, and let all things go. If, therefore,
it is the case with you that the convent work
is not of your own free will, but a burden to

your conscience, then call upon your friends
to help you out and, if the authorities will
aUow it, provide for you in their homes or
elsewhere. If your friends or parents will
not consent, let any other good people help
you, without regard to whether your parents
should be made angry thereby, — should die, or
recover from it. For God's will and the sal-
vation of the soul should be before all things,
as Christ says : " He who loveth father or
mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me."
But if the sisters were willing to leave you
free, or, at least, to allow you to read or hear
the "Word of God, you must remain, and
do and perform the convent duties, such as
qNomng, cooking, and the like, provided that
you set no value on it. The other ground
Is the desires of the flesh, however you
■women -folk are ashamed to acknowledge
tluB ; yet it is to be found iu Scripture and
experience. As, for instance, eating, drink-
ing, waking, and sleeping are appointed by
Qod, so does He will also that natumlly man
and woman shall Hve together in matrimony ;
therefore is this sufficient, and no one need

12 Luther^ s Letters to Women.

be ashamed of it, as God has created and
made him to this end ; so that where there is
not high and rare grace, he may go forth
and do that for which he is adapted by
nature. All these things you will abund-
antly and suflSciently read and learn, if you
come out and hear good sermons. For I
have fully proved and set forth these things
in the book on Cloister Vows ■} item, oil
Eschewing the Teaching of Men f item, in
a Sermon on Married Life f item, in the
pQstilla,^ which, if you read, you will find
sufficient instmctions in all points, whether it
be confession or other things, which are far
too long and unnecessary to wiite ; because
I foresee that you wiU leave the convent,
whether you are affected by both or only
one of these reasons which you put forth in
your complaint. If it should come to pass
that the convent should attain to true free-
dom, then those who have grace and liking

' Walcb, six. p. 1S16. " Id. six. p. 712.

^ Id. x. p. 706.

■■ Church FoBlilla, ia xi.-xii. vols., by Walch ; Zfoww
Fostilla, in xiii. vols.

To some Nuns. 13

for it may well enter there, even as now the
Council at Berne, in Switzerland, has opened
the renowned Convent of Konigfeld, and
allowed any maidens who choose to enter,
remain, or go out freely, giving them back
what they brought in. Herewith, God be
with you ; and pray for me.

Martinus Luther.

Given at Wittenberg,
on the day of Moflrtyr Sixtits, 1525.

(

rrffarV ZcMcra Co YroMAt.

LETTEB V.

ToKaUtenmeSdtmlsiM. Iteeemher 17, 152i.

LaUkfr wgi«fkte» tiUs fiicnd of the Latfaeran
tttcliiwfc wbo was of sotae impcvtaiioe in the history
of Um KdonttilioB at Stratbwg oa b^ faith, and her
nMrriage to tbe pnadifr Matthias ZdL

To fA« nrfaowf Uuiy, Katherme Schiitxin, tny dear
stater ami friend in Christ, at Strasburg.

Gbace and peace in Christ. My lore, I
give jou joy that God has so abundantly
given you his grace, that you not only per-
ceive and apprehend his kingdom (which is
hidden from so many), but also bestow your-
self upon a man to whom you may always
give ear, and from whom, daily and un-
ceasingly, you may learn what is good ; and
I wish you grace and strength to continue
grateful for the same till that day when,
God willing, we shall all see each other and
rejoice.

No more now. Pray to God for me, and

To Katherine Schiitzin. 15

give my greeting to your lord, Herr Matthia
Zell. Herewith, God be with you.

Martinus Luther.

Swnday evemmg^ after Service,
1524.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER VI.

To Maria Queen of Hungary.
November 1, 1526.

Maria, Bister of the Emperor Charles V., lost her
husband, Kiug Louia II, of Hungary, fighting against
the Turks in the battle of Mahacz. She knew Luther's
doctrines, and promoted their difiusion. The Fsalms of
Comfort which Luther dedicated to her were the 37th,
62d, 94th, and 109Ui.'

To her most august Highness and high-bom Lad^
Frau Maria, bom Queen of Spain, &c., QueeoA
of Hungary and Bohemia, my most graciouf
lady.

Geace and comfort from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Most gracious
Lady and Queen, I had undertaken, by the
recommendation of some pious people, to dcT
dicate to your Queenly Majesty the accom-
panying four Psalms, as an exhortation that
you should cheerfully and vigorously continue

' Walch, v. 1.

to adrance the Holy Word of God in Hungary,
because the good tidings came to me that
your Qaeenly Majesty was incliued toward
the Gospel, but that you were much liindered
and thwarted by the Godless Bishops, who
are powerful in Hungary, and are said to
have most of the land there ; so that they
have caused some innocent blood to be spilt,
and terrible violence done against the truth
of God. But now, alas ! affairs have changed,
through God's power and providence ; the
Turks having brought great sorrow and
misery on your Queenly Majesty, by slay-
ing your beloved husband, the noble young
King Ludwig, I therefore am necessi-
tated to change what I had purposed writing.
Now, had the Bishop allowed the Gospel to
spread, alt the world would have cried out
that this great misfortune had come to
Hungary on account of the Lutheran heresy,
which would have been a blasphemy. To
whatever now they choose to give the blame,
they may see, as I do, that God has hin-
dered any reason from arising for such blas-
phemy.

Aa St. Paul writes to the Roroana, that
tlie Holy Scriptures are for our consolation,
and to teach us patience, I have on that ac-
count proceeded to forward these same Psalms
to console your Queenly Majesty — so far as
God permits us consolation — in this great
and sudden misfortune and misery with which
the Almighty God haa visited at this time
your Queenly Majesty, — not from anger or
displeasure, as we may justly hope, but as
trial and chastisement; that your Queenly
Majesty may learn to trust alone in the true
Father, who is in heaven, and comfort yoi
self with the true Bridegroom, Jesus Christ
who ia also our Brother — nay, our flei
blood; and enjoy yourself with the true frienda
and true associates, the dear angels, who are
around, and take care of us. For although
that death is so bitter to your Queenly Ma-
jesty (and justly so), making you so early a
widow, and I'obbing you of a dear husband,
yet again the Scriptures, especially the Psalms,
give much good comfort, and show abun-
dantly the sweet-loving Father and Son, in
whom lie concealed certain and eternal life.

Eungary. 18

And, indeed, ■whoever can arriye so far as to
aee and feel the love of the Father towards
us, as shown in the Scriptures, can also easily
bear all the misfortuues that may happen to
him on earth. On the other hand, whoever
does not feel this, cannot be truly happy.
even though he floated in the midst of all
the pleasures and enjoyments of the world.
Indeed, no man can experience such great
misfortune as God the Father Himself ex-
perienced, in that his dearest Child was
spit upon, cursed, and put to the most
shameful death upon the cross, in return
for all his wonders and loving deeds ; ne-
vertheless, every one thinks his own mis-
fortune the greatest, and lays it more to
heart than the crucifixion of Christ, though
He had been crucified ten times over.
This is because we are not so strong in
patience as God is ; therefore smaller crosses
cause us more woo than the cross of Christ.
But may the Father of mei'cy and God
of all comfort console your Queenly Ma-
jesty, in his Son Jesus Christ, by his
Holy Spirit, that you may soon forget this

20 Luther 8 Letters to Women.

misery, or be enabled to bear it manfully.
Amen.
Your Queenly Majesty's humble servant,

Martin Luther.

At Wittenberg^
On the 1st of the vnnter month, 1526.

Crifitopb Jiirger, & Councillor of the Emjieror Maxi-
tnilion I., dwelling in Upper Austria, an adlierent of
Lutlier, had received the Esslingcr preacher, Michael
Stiefel, Gent by him. On hia return to Witteuberg.
Lu^er writes this letter.

To the noble and virtuous Fran Dorothea J'Jrger,
vndov), at ToUet, my best and true friend in
Christ.

Grace and peace in Christ our Lord. Vir-
tuous lady, I have received Michael Stiefel
with pleasure, and especially as you bear
such good testimony of him, that he has
shown himself so Christian-like towards you,
and fruitful in good works, as I had expected
of him ; and God has not caused my confidence
to be put to shame. I, together with mj Kate,
thank you kindly for your dear and true
gift. May God Almighty increase and keep

22 Luther s Letters to Women.

Toa gradooslj in his Holy Word, as He has
began, to the end God will rightly overrule
this tyranny to his praise and your salvation.
Herewith, God be with you. Amen.

MABTIlifUS LUTHEB.
On the Epiphanyy 1527.

Kamtz. 23 ■

VIII. \

LETTER

To Mke von Kanitz. May 2, 1527.

Invitation to become inatructreaa of girls at Wit-
tenberg.

To the honourable and virtuotis maiden Else von
Kanits, now at Eiche, my dear friend in
Christ.

Grace and peace in Chriet Jeaus. Honour-
able and Tirtuoua maiden Else, I have written
to propose to your dear aunt Hanna von
Plausig to send you to me for a time ; for I
have thought of making use of you, to in-
struct young girls, and that, in beginning
Buch work, you may be an example to others.
You shall be in my house and at my table,
so that you may be exempt from dangers
and cares ; so I pray you not to refuse me.
I hear that you are tempted with grievous
thoughts by the Evil One. dear maiden,
do not let such things frighten you ; for those
who suffer from the devil here will not do

24 Luther^ 8 Letters to Women.

so hereafter : it is a good sign. Christ also
suflFered thus, and many holy Prophets and
Apostles, as is truly shown in the Psalter.
Therefore be comforted, and bear willingly
this rod from your Father; He will deliver
you from it in his good time. When you
come, I will speak to y(u further thereof.
Herewith, God be with you. Amen.

At Wittenberg,
Sv/nday after Agap., 1527.

To Elizabeth, Wife ofAgricola.

To Elizaheth, Wife of Agricola}
June 10, 1527.

Letter of coafialation.

To the honourable and virtuous Frau ElizaheUv
Agncola, schoolmistress at Eislehen, my dear
friend.

Grace and peace to my dear Elsa. I
had wished to write to you earlier, but Herr
Matthes was gone sooner than I expected ;
and HO I thought, that if your Herr Magister
had returned home, it would, God willing,
fare better with you. But you must not be
80 faint-hearted and despairing, remember-
ing that Christ is near, and helps you to bear
oril ; for He has not so forsaken 3'ou, as to
give you up to your own earthly nature.

' Jofaann Agricola was preacter at Eialeben. Lu-
ther often called bim jestingly "Magister Eislebeu."

He dieJ general auperinteadent in t!ie Marciics.

Luther's Letters to Women,

Only call upon Him with earnest heart, and
you may be assured that He will hear you,
because you know that it is hia nature to
help, strengthen, and comfort all those who
desire it of Him.

Be therefore comforted, and think that
He Himself has suffered far more for you
than you can ever suffer on either your own
or his account. We will also pray, and pray'
earnestly, that God will accept you in hia
Son Christ, and strengthen you in such weak-
ness of body and soul. Herewith God bo^
with you. Amen. Greet your Magister and
all yours on all our accounts.

Maetinus Luthek.

Given on WiU-Monday, 1527.

To Frau Felicitat van Selmemh. 27

^^P To Frau Felicitas von Selmenitz.
April 1, 1528.

This lady, widow of a former Captain Wolf von
Selmenite, at AUstadt, who bad been murdered at
Halle, Lad accepted the Evaogelical doctrines, and re-
ceived tlie Lord's Supper in both kinds. In 1527, she
came with her son for some time to "Wittenberg ; but
went hack to Halle on account of the plague. There
the archbishop called upon her cither to give up her
ftuth, or to abandon Halle. Of this she complained to
Lutber, and received the following letter from him.

To the hanaurabh, virtuous Frau Felicitas von
Selmeniti, vndow at Halle, my dear friend in
Christ.

Gracb and peace in Christ our Lord and
Saviour. Honourable and virtuous lady, I
have learnt your trouble. Christ will be
with you, and not abandon you. As, how-
ever, you inquire of me whether you should
flee or remain, I think you are at liberty to
flee with a good conscience, if you have re-

28 Luther's Letters to Women.

ceived permission from the authorities; but
yet I would rather you should delay a while,
till you obtain certain news whether the car-
dinal will come, that it may not be thought
you wish to flee before the time and without
reason : yet I leave it all to your good plea-
sure. God Almighty strengthen you and
all the brothers and sisters at Halle, accord-
ing to his Godly will.

Martinus Luther.

At Wittenberg,
Wedneadai/, Ist April 1528.

To Margaret N. 29

LETTER XT.

J Margaret N. December 15, 15i28.

Consolation on the death of her husband.

I Gbacb be to you and peace in Christ.

Honourable and virtuoua lady, your sou N.

I has informed me of the sorrow and misfortune
that has come upon you in the death of your
dear lord ; therefore I am moved by Chris-
tian love to write you this letter of consola-
tion.

First, it should comfort you, that in the
severe conflict which your lord has sustained,
he has at last and finally conquered and won
Christ. Furthermore, that he has departed
in his senses, and in Christian acknow-
ledgment of our Lord, which I myself have
beyond measure gladly and joyfully heard.
For Christ Himself struggled in the Garden,
ftnd yet at last conquered, and rose from tlie
dead.

But though your lord wounded himself.

it may be that the devil has power over the
limbs, and has thus forcibly moved his hand
against his will. For if he had done it wil-
fully, he would not have returned to himself,
and been converted to such an acknowledg-
ment of Christ. How often does the devil
break an arm, a neck, a back, and all the
limbs ! He may have power over the body

I and the limbs without our will.

' Therefore you may and ought to be con-
tented in God, and count yourself amongst
those of whom Chiist says {Matthew v. 4) :
" Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall
be comforted," All saints should sing the
22d verse of the 44th Psalm ; " For thy
sake are we killed all the day long, and are ■
counted as sheep for the slaughter." Wo
must have sorrow and misfortune, if we are to
partake of consolation.

Thank God also for this great mercy,
that your lord did not remain in conflict and
despair, as happens to some, but was by God's
grace powerfully rescued, and was at last
taken in Christian confession and faith : of
whom it is said : " Blessed are they that die

To Margaret K. 31

in the Lord." And Christ Himself says (John
xi. 26), " He that believeth in Me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live/' Herewith,
may Grod the Father console and strengthen
,oa ia Ch™t Je^ ! Amen.

Maetinus Luthek.

At Wittenberg,
Tuesday, Lvda^ 1528.

32 Luther s Letters to Women,

LETTER XIL
To Frau Goritzin. May 5, 1529.

Bequest to the wife of a judge at Leipzig to be
sponsor in Baptism of Luther's daughter, called Magda-
lena

Grace to you, and peace in Christ,
honourable and virtuous lady. Dear fnend,
God having granted that a young heathen
should be bom to me and my dear Eate, I
pray you for God's sake to do us the kindness
to help this same poor heathen to become
a Christian, and to be her spiritual mother,
that she may, by your service and help, throw
off the old birth in Adam, and obtain to the
new birth in Christ, through holy Baptism.
Be assured that I will return your good offices
as you may desire. Herewith, God be with
you. Amen. I myself have not ventured to
go out into the air.

Martin us Luther.

1529.

To his Wife.

LETTER XIII.
To his Wife. October i, 1529.

Luther iofonnB her of the result of the Marburger
conference, which had been brought about by the
Landgrave Philip of HesBe, in order to unite the Swiss
Reformers with the Wittenbergers.

Grace to ^ou, aud peace in Christ.
HeiT Katc,^ know that our frieiidlj confer-
ence at Marburg has come to an end, and
we are on almost all points united, except
that our opponents maintain that it is mere
bread in the Lord's Supper, but acknow-
ledge the presence of Christ therein spiri-
tually. Now the Landgrave is trying to
bring us to unanimity, or, in case we con-
tinue to disagree, to bind us together as
brothers and members of Christ. To this
effect he is working eagerly ; but we care
naught for brothers and members ; all we

) A n&me frequently applied in jest by Luther to
Kuthflrine.

wish is peace and good-will. I think thar"
to-morrow, or the day after, we shall breal*^*
up, and go to an honourable gentleman at^^"^
Schl, in Voigtland, whither his Electoral^^-^
Princely Grace has called ub.

Tell Hcrr Pommer' that the best argu- -
ments were those of Zwingliue,^ that " cor-
pus non potest esse sine loco ; ergo Christi -*
corpus non est in pane ;"^ and those of Oecko- |
lampadius :* the " Sacramentum est signum
corporis Christi."^ I thought that God had
blinded them, so that thej would advance
nothing. I have much to do, and the mea-

' JohaDE Bugenliagen, of PomeraDia,-^on that sc-
oonnt generally culled by Lutlier Pommer, — a trustj
asBiBtant of Luther. He was jirofessor at Witteobergi
H&(] then general auperiutendent in Electural Saxony-
He died at Wittenberg, 15S8.

^ Huldreioh Zwingliua^ — bora 1484 ; first Reforme*"
at Zurich— was killed at the buttle of Cappel, 1531.

^ "The body cannot be without place ; therefore the
body of Christ is not in the bread."

■" Oeckolampadius (HauBschein), born 1482; paatof
tad professor at Basle. Died 1531, seven weeks after
Zwinglius.

The Sacrament is the token of the body of Christ."

oenger ia in a hurry. Say good night to all,
and pray for ua. We are all fresh and sound,
and live like princea. Kiss Lensgen and
ffitasgen' for me.

Your devoted servant,

Maktinus LnTHEE.
The dag of Franckcus, 1529.

'.S. Johaun Brenz,^ Andreas Osian-

* Theae two children were boni — Magdalene 1529,
and Hans 1526. Magdalene died 1542; Bans, as
Chanceiy Counsellor at KOnigsberg, 15T5. In Luther's
Tahl«-Talk we are told how he behaved during the ill-
Dees and death of Magdalene. When she was lyingvery
rick, he said lo her, " Magdalene, my little daughter,
thou wouldest willingly remain with the father here,
yet gladly goest to the Father yonder V She answered :
"Yes, dear father, as God wills it." As she was dying,
he fell on his knees by the bed, weeping bitterly, and
praying that God would redeem her. She then passed
»way in ber father's urms. When she lay in the coffin,
he said, " It is a wonderful thing, though feeling assured
of all being well with her, and that she is at peace, one
should yet feel ho sorrowful."

I Jobann Breuz, born 1499; Reformer in Halle, in
Bwahia; died 16T0.

36 Luther^ s Letters to Women.

der,^ Dr. Stephan,^ from Augsburg, are come
here.

Every one here has become mad with fear
of the " sweatmg sickness.''^ Yesterday fifty
were taken ill of it, of whom one or two have
died.

1 Andreas Osiander, born 1498 ; preacher at; Nurem-
berg. Died, as professor at Konigsberg, 1552.

^ Stephan Agricola, confessor to the Empress Anna,
then Evangelical preacher at Nuremberg and Eisleben.
Died 1547.

^ An epidemic that was known under the name of
the '' English sweating sickness."

LETTER XIV.

To Katherine Mornung. February 1, 1530.

Wolf Hornung liad been baniBhed by tlie Elector
Joachim of Brandenburg. The loog separation from
his wife had occasioned money disputes between them.
These Luther sought to compose.

To tlie HonowaUe Lady, Katherine Hornung, ai
C'oUen on the Spree.
Geace and peace in Christ, honourable
and dear lady. You may rest assured that
what I now write to jou is at the request
and desire of your husband, Wolf Hornung.
Your conscience may truly tell you, that you
cannot be safe under the knavish and worth-
less contract which was given to you, and
extorted from Wolf Hornung (as he says) ;
nor can you, on account of it, claim the pro-
tection of your sovereign, nor use it, as it is
clearly against the Word of God to interfere
in disputes betwixt husband and wife. There-
fore, the master who arranged this contract

for you, and did not scruple at such a trick,
absented himself, and has wished to draw
his head out of the noose, and to shore the
whole affair off upon Homung ; but does not
see that he has fallen into the trap himself.

Now, you know, you have committed such
great and horrible wickedness and offence
against your husband, and carried on such
robbery, withholding from him yourself and
child, and depriving hira of house and home,
his property and his honour, besides having
driven him into misery ; so that he is ex-
posed, hke a poor beggar, to great want and
poverty ; added to which, he has for more
than four years, as a young man, run the
risk of danger to his soul : which sins will
all fall upon your own head and neck, and
will oppress you ; besides which, you have
often been called upon, entreated, and prayed,
yet have not come. Therefore it is necessary
that the matter should be treated in another
way. It is right that you should know that
I think Wolf Homung may loose himself
from you as from a public adulteress, if you
do not comport yourself otherwise, that he

may be enabled to begin a fresh life, wherein
he may remain, and not pass his time wan-
dering in perpetual exile.

Therefore I fix a time within which you
may bethink you how you ought to act,
namely, the approaching mid-Lent, that is,
Latare Sunday ; meanwhile, you may act as
you choose. After Latare, you shall (God
willing) have another smaU letter to read,
la the poor Wolf Hornung to suffer such rob-
bery ? Well, God, who has more than He
can ever bestow, will give him another wife,
child, house, and home, possessions and
honour. With this knowledge, you may
decide for yourself. God deliver you from
your sins, and bring you to a right feeling !
Amea.

Given at Wittenberg,
February X, 1530.

Luther s Letiers to Women.

LETTER XV.

To the Wife of J. Jonas} April 24, 1530.

Grace to you, and peace in Christ, Dear
Frau, Doctor, and Godmother, I have read
your letter to Herr Doctor Jonas, and am
well pleased that God has given you a cheer-
ful spirit and good hope, both with respect
to the prospect of having a child, and to the
damage done to your house. Your lord is
not 80 hght of heart, but is very anxious
concerning you ; and is angry, and scolds
and curses lustily about the pulUng down of
the house, and bears with great impatience
living as near the planks as, on account of
the space, he is obUged to live. But be com-
forted ; you shall hare no trouble about the
house, as the affair has been arranged. I
hope, also, that God will graciously help you
through your time of trouble, and give you

' Justus Jonas, bom 1493, p&ster at Halle ; after-
wards Buperiutendeat at Erfurt, where he died, 15Sd.

To the Wife of J. Jonas. 41

twins : but I think it will be a little daugh-
ter. These are such strange creatures, and
struggle so, that a large house is too small
for them ; even as the mothers also do, who
make the world too narrow for a poor man.
Give my greetings to your dear Jost and
grandmother, and accept them yourself.
Herewith, God be with you. Amen.

Martinus Luther.

Given <xt Goburgy
on St Oeorge^S'day, 1530.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER XVI.

To his Wife. August 14, 1530.

A short account of the Diet at Angaburg, and of
Luther's health.

Geace to you, and peace in Christ. My
dear Kate, thia messenger is in such. hastpO
to depart, that I have no time to write any
thing, but do not like to let him go without
a few Hnes from me. You may tell Heir
Johann Pommer, and all, that I will soon
write more. We have as yet no news from
Augsburg, but expect every hour a letter.
We have flying reports that the answer of
our opponents will be publicly read ; but
they would not give any copy to our party,
that they might answer it. I do not know
whether this ia true. Where the hght is
thus shunned, our friends will not long re-
.in. Since Lorenzo • day I have been
almost well, and felt no swimming in my
head, which has made me quite brisk in

To his Wife. 43

iting. I had before been much plagued
this dizziness. Greet all for me : more
other time. Grod be with you. Amen,
ly hopefully, for the work is well begun,
i Grod will help.

Mabtinus Luther.

^iven on Swnday after
Lorenzo-day y 1530.

Luther s Letters to Women.

LETTEE XVII.

To his Wife. August 15, 1530.

To he delivered into the hands of my dear Strr
Frau Kaiherine Luther.

Gkace to you, and peace in Christ. M]
dear Kate, just as I had fastened up m]
letter, I received these from Augsburg ; so 1
detained the messenger, that he might take
them with him. From them you will find
that our concerns at Augsburg prospw,
pretty much as I Lave said in other lettera
Let Peter Weller^ read them to you, or Herl
Johann Pommer. May God continue to help
as He has graciously begun. Amen. I .
not write more now, as the messenger
ready to depart, and will scarcely ton]
Greet our dear Sack. I have read yt

1 Weller, probably & brother of Jerome Weller, i
is mentioned in tbe SOth Letter, an intimate friend
Luther. Jerome died 1572, as superintendent at EVd-
berg.

To his Wife. 45

letter to the Treasurer's wife, and she thanks
you much. I hare sent Haas Polner' to
I*€ter Weller ; see that he comports himself
obediently. Greet Hans Luther, and his
■choolmaster, to whom I will soon write.
Oreet cousin Lehnen,^ and all the rest. We
^*e eating here ripe grapes, although it has
*>«ett very wet this month. God be with

L ^oa alL Amen.

^^B Mabtinus Luther.

I «o si

ttx Eremo,^ Aisumption-day, 1530,

.P.S. It vexes me that our printer has
shamefully delayed the copies. I send
these copies that they may be finished
Bpeedily, and they make winter fruit of
them for me. If I had wished them to be
laid aside, I should hare kept them with me.
1 have written to you to take the sermon*

' A stadent recommended by Lndier.

* A raladon dwelling in Lnther's Louse.

•From the wUdornesa. Tiius Luther called his
mideaoe tX Eobui^.

* On the duty of sending children to school.

46 Luther^ 8 Letters to Women.

from Schirlenz (if he has not begun it), and
give it to George Ean.^ I can imagine that
Schirlenz has not sufficient paper for his large
edition. If you have not given it to the
other, let it be done soon, and the sermon
finished at the earliest.

^ Two printers.

To his Wife.

^H LETTEE XYIII.

^^» To his Wife. September 24, 1530.

To be delivered into the hands o/Frau Katlierine
D. Luther, at Wittenberg.

Gbace to you, and peace in Christ. My
dear Kate, I wrote a letter to you yesterday,
which I sent, together with one to our gra-
cious lord, from which you will understand
that our people at Augsburg are about to
start. Then I hope, God willing, that we
shall in a fortnight be with you at home,
{^though I think our affair will not remain
uncensured. But they have no power. They
positively desire to have the monks and nuns
again in the cloisters. Yet Rietesel has writ-
ten that he hopes that they will part in peace
on all sides at Augsburg. May God grant
this I it would be a great mercy. It needs
that things should go well with us, as the

'kfl are upon us. You will hear further

^Jjtfkfl

48 LtUher^s Letters to Women.

from Hornung. Herewith, God be withy^^
all. Amen.

Martinus Luther.

Coburg, Sunday after MaUkuM, 1530.

To the Wife of Matthew Zell 49

LETTER SIX.

To the Wife of Matthew Zell
January's,^, 1531.

This letter has reference to the poaitioa of Lutlier
with the Strasburgera,

To the virtuous wife of Matthew Zeli, at Strasburg,
my kind and dear friend.

Grace and peace in Christ. My dear
lady, I have not hitherto answered your letter
which I received long since, as I thought it
was too 800Q whilst the affair was so new ;
but as now {God be praised !) the bitterness is
a little softened, I will enter upon your letter,
that you may help to entreat both your
lord and other friends, that (if it please God)
peace and union may be preserved. For you
know full well that love should be above
all things, and have the precedence, except of
God, who is over all things, and even above
love. If He and his Word have the prece-
dence, love will assuredly have the upper

50 Luther* s Letters to Women.

hand with us^ next to God. Such high things
should not be undertaken by our own devices
or zeal, but by hearty prayer and spiritual
sighs ; for it is God's affair, not ours. God
must do it ; our doing is nothing. Pray,
pray, pray ; and let Him take care. Here-
with, God be with you. Amen. Greet your
dear lord for me.

Mabtinus Luther.

Jammry 24, 1531.

To Barbara Lischnerin.

LETTER XX.

To Barbara Lischner'm. April 30, 1531.

Luther endeavours to relieve her douhtB on pre-
estioatioD.

Grace to you, and peace in Christ. Dear |
nd virtuous lady, your dear brother Jerome
Veller has made known to me how sorely
ou are troubled with temptation concerning
ternal foreknowledge, which is truly grievous
me. May Christ our Lord deliver you
rom it. Amen.

I know this malady well, and have lain ia i
he hospital on account of it, being sick even '
death eternal. Now will I, besides my
irayers, give you counsel and comfort. In ,
;uch matters, writing is a weak thing ; but I
vill not desist, if God will give me grace for
t. I will show you how God has helped me
mt of it, and by what skill I daily maintain
nyself against it.

First, you must firmly fix in your mind |

|fl2 Luifier's Letters to Women .

tbat such thoughts are assuredly the prompt-
ings and fiery darts of the Evil One. The
Holy Scriptures speak thus : " He who in-
quires into the Majesty of the Most High
■will be cast down." Now, such thoughts
are idle searchings into the Majesty of God,
and would pry into his high Providence :
and Jesus the son of Sirach says, iii. 22 :
"Thou ahalt not inquire into what is too
high for thee," But what God has com-
manded, that do thou accept ; for it profits
you nothing to gape after that which you are
not commanded. David also pleads with the
Lord, in Psalm cxsxi, 2, as though it would
have fared ill with him, if he had exercised
himself in great matters which were too high
for him.

Therefore, it is certain that these ideas
come not from God, but from the devil, who
plagues the heart therewith, that man may
hate God, and despair ; all which God has
strictly forbidden in the first commandment,
and wills that we should love, trust, and praise
Hira by whom we live.

Secondly : if such ideas beset you, you

To Barbara Lischnerin.

should leam to ask yourself : " Is it anj where
commanded, so that I should think of or act
upon it V If there is uo such coniinaud-
ment, learn to say: "Avaunt, thou miserable
devil ! thou wishest to drive me to take care
of myself, though God every where tells me
that I should leave it to Him to take care of
roe, and says, ' I am thy God !' — that is, ' I
care for you' — " iiold to Me therefore, and a-
wait my bidding, and let Me take care of you."
As St. Peter teaches (1 Peter v. 7) : "Cast
all your care upon Him, for He careth for
you ;" and David (in Psalm Iv, 22) : " Cast
thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sus-
tain thee."

Thirdly : if, nevertheless, these thoughts
will nut leave you (for the devil unwillingly
desists), you must also not desist, but always
turn your mind from them, and say ; " Dost
thou not hear, devil, that I will not have sucli
thoughts? God has forbidden them. Avaunt
thee ! I must now think on his command-
ments, and let Him the while care for me.
If thou art so clever in such matters, betake
thee to heaven, and dispute with God Him-

I 64 Luther s Letters to Women.

I self, who can sufficiently answer thee." Thus
I Trill you always drive him from you, and turn
I your heart to God's commandments.

Fourthly : of all God's commandments,
I the highest is, that we shall take after the
[ pattern of his dear Son, our Lord Jesus
[ Christ, who should be our daily and most
I excellent mirror, wherein we see what great
1 love God hath for us ; and how highly, in his
I infinite goodness, He has cared for us, in that
I He has giren his dear Son for us.

In this way, I say, one learns the true
I knowledge of predestination, and no other-
I -wise ; thus will it be shown that you believe
I in Christ. If you believe, you are called ; if
I you are called, you are also assuredly predes-
I tinated. Do not let this mirror and throne
of grace ever be torn from the eyes of your
heart ; but if such thoughts come and bite

I like fiery serpents, do not give heed to these
thoughts or serpents, but ever turn away
your thoughts, and contemplate the brazen
serpent, that is, Christ given for us ; so, God
willing, it shall fare better with you.
But, as I have said, you will have to

To Barbara Liaehnenn.

struggle, and ever shun such thoughts. If
they find entrance, cast them out again
as you would speedily spit out any filth
that had fallen into your mouth. Thus has
God helped me ; for it is his urgent com-
mand that we conform ourselves to his Son,
in whom He has abundantly shown Himself
to be our God (aa the first commandment
teaches), who helps and caros for us. There-
fore He will not BuflFar that we should
help or take care for ourselves : for that is
to deny God, and the first commandment,
and Christ.

The miserable devil, who is the enemy of
God and Christ, will drag us by such thoughts,
contrary to the first commandment, from God
and Christ, to rest on ourselves and our own
care, that so we may take upon ourselves
God's office, which is to care for us and be
our God ; just as he desired to'make Adam
in Paradise equal with God, that Adam
might be hia own God, and take care of him-
self, and thus rob God of this care and godly
work, whereby Adam did so grievously fall.

Thus much have I now advised you, and

Luther's Letters to Women.

have deaired your brother Jerome Weller to
warn and admonish you with all diligence,
that you may east away such thoughts, and
send them home to the devil, that he may
fathom tbera ; who knows well how it fared
with him before in a like case — namely, that
he fell from heaven into the abyss of hell. In
short, what is not commanded us should not
distract nor trouble ua ; it is of the devil, not
God. May our dear Lord Jesus Christ show
unto you his wounds, and gladden your heart
with his love, so that you may see and hear
Him alone, until you become one with Him i»f
joy 1 Amen.

D. Maetinus Luthee.

The last day of April 1531.

LETTER XXI.
To his Mother. May 20, 1531.

Gbace to you, and peace in Christ Jesus
our Lord and Saviour. Amen. My beloved
mother, I have received my brother Jacob'a
letter, with an account of your sickness ; and
it grieves my heart, especially as I cannot be
with you in person, as I would gladly be ; yet
will I be, as it were, in person with you in
this letter, together with all our family, and
will assuredly not be away from you in
spirit.

Although I hope, that not only has your
heart been long and abundantly instructed,
and (God be praised !) perfected in his com-
forting Word, but also that you have been
provided with preachers and comforters, yet
will I do my part, and, as in duty bound,
show that I am your child, and recognise you
as my mother ; as God our Creator has made
bound us to one another by mutual

58 Luther's Letters to Women.

duties, so that I may add myself to the num-
ber of your coraforters.

First, dear mother, you know well Gfod'ff
mercy, and how that this your sickness is his'
gracious fatherly chastisement, and quite
sliglit one in comparison of that which He
inflicts upon the godless, or even upon his
own dear children, as one is beheaded, an-
other burnt, and a third drowned, and bg
forth ; and we must all declare : " For thj^
sake are we killed all the day long ; we are
counted as sheep for the slaughter" (Pa. sHt.
22 ; Rom. viii. 36). Therefore this sickness
should not afflict nor trouble you, but should
be accepted with thankfulness, as sent of his
mercy ; seeing how slight a suffering it
even though it should be a sickness unto
death, compared with the sufferings of bis
own dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which
He did not suffer for Himself, as we do, who'
must suffer for our own sins.

Secondly, you know, dear mother, the
true main point and foundation of our salva-
tion, whereon should be placed our confidence
in this and all troubles ; namely, the corner-

To his Mother. 59

stone Jesus Christ (Is. xxviii. 16: Rom. ix.
33 ; 1 Peter ii. 6), who will not waver nor fail
us, nor allow us to sink and perish. For He
is the Saviour, and calls Himself the Saviour
of all poor sinners (1 Tim. ii. 4), and of all
who are in tribulation and about to die, who
have relied on Him, and called on his Name.

He saith : " Be of good cheer ; I have
overcome the world." If He has overcome
the world. He has assuredly overcome the
prince of this world, with all his power.
And what is his power but death, whereby
He has prostrated us and made us prisoners
on account of our sins 1 But now that death
and sin are overcome, may we joyfully and
cheerfully hear the sweet words : " Be of
good cheer ; I have overcome the world" !

And we must not doubt their truth ; but,
as we are commanded, accept them with joy
and comfort and tiianksgiving. And he who
will not bo comforted by these words does
the greatest injustice and dishonour to the
dear Comforter, just as if it were not true
when He bids us be of good cheer ; or as if
iwere not true that He has overcome the

Luther's Letters to Women.

worlj ; and thus we ouraelpes restore the
tyranny of the vanquished devil, sin, afi^'
death, against the dear Saviour — from whie^
God preserve ua I

Therefore let us now rejoice in all securitj
and gladness ; and should any thought of s
or death arise to frighten us, let ua raise ool
hearts, and say, "Behold, dear soul, what does|
thou ? Dear death, dear sin, why dost tho(
live and frighten me ? Seest thou not thai
thou art conquered ? and that thou, death
art dead ? Knowest thou not One who ha{
said of thee, 'I have overcome theworld'1
becometh not me to listen or give heed to thj
terrors, but only to the cheering words of mj
Saviour: 'Be comforted, be of good cheer;
have overcome the world.' He is the Con^
queror, the tme Hero, who hereby gives and
appropriates his victory to mc. Be of gooj
cheer. On Him I rest, to his words ar
comfort I cling; thereby I remain here, i
journey thither: He will not deny me. By
thy false terrors thou wouldst gladly deceive
me, and with lying thoughts would rend mo
from such a Conqueror and Saviour ; and they

are as surely lies, as it is true that He has
overcome, and commanded us to be comforted.
Thus, St. Paul also boasts and defies the ter-
rors of death (1 Cor. xv. 54, 55): 'Death is
swallowed up in victory. death, where is
thy sting "i grave, where is thy victory V
Frighten and irritate thou canst, like a wooden
image of death ; but thou hast no power to
destroy. For thy victory, sting, and power
have been swallowed up in Christ's victory;
thou mayest show thy teeth, but thou canst
not bite. For God has given us the victory
through Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be
praise and thanlis. Amen."

With such words and thoughts, and none
other, dear mother, you may set your heart
afc rest, and be thankful that God has brought
you to such knowledge, and not allowed you
to stick in the errors of Popery, by which we
are taught, to rely on our own works and the
holiness of monks, and to consider this our
only Comforter and Saviour, not as a com-
forter, but as a severe judge and tyrant, — to
flee from Him to Mary and the saints, and
not to expect of Him any mercy or comfort.

62 Luther's Letters to Women.

But now we know far otherwise of the
unfathomable compassion and goodness of
our Heavenly Father, and that Jesus Christ
ia our Mediator {1 Tim. ii. 5) and stepping-
stool of grace, and our Bishop in heaven be-
fore God, who daily intercedes for us, and
atones for all (Horn. iii. 25} who only call
upon and believe in Him (Heb. iv. 16;
vii. 25) ; and is not a severe judge, except to
those who do not believe in Him, nor accept
his comfort and grace. He is not one who
accuses and threatens us, but who intercedes
and atones by his own death, having shed
his blood for us ; so that we ought not to fear:
Him, but approach Him with all assurance,
and call Him dear Saviour, sweet ComforteTj
true Bishop of our souls (1 Tim. iv. 10 j
1 Pet. ii. 25).

To such knowledge, I say, God has gra*
cioualy called you, whose sign and seal you
have — namely, the Gospel, Baptism, and the
Sacrament ; you also hear preaching, so that
you shall have no danger nor trouble. Only
be comforted, and joyfully thankful for such
great mercy ; for He who has begun will

To his Mother.

also gi-aciously perfect it in you. But we
cannot help ourselves in such matters — we
can gain nothing over sin, death, and the
deril by our own works; therefore there is
One for us in oiu* stead, who can do better,
and give to us his victory, so that we accept
and do not doubt thereof; and He says: "Be
of good cheer; I have overcome the world;"
and again : " Because I live, ye shall live
also ; and your joy no man taketh from you"
(John xvi. 22; xiv, 19).

The Father and God of all comfort grant
you, through his holy Word and Spirit, a firm,
joyfid, and thankful faith, whereby you may
overcome this and all other trouble, and at
last feel and experience that it is the truth
when He Himself says ; " Be of good cheer ;
I have overcome the world." I herewith
commend your body and soul to his mercy.
Amen. All your children and my Kate pray
for you. Some weep, others eat, and say
grandmother is very ill. God's grace be with
us all ! Amen. — Your dear son,

Maetinl's Luther.

iay evening aJUr Atcermon Stmiloy, 1531.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER XXII.

To his Wife. February 27, 1532.

Lather, beiog at Court on account of tbe Illness of
I the Electotj writes from thence tlus letter.

To he deUvered into the hands of my dearly beloved
wife, Katkerine Luther.

God greet you in Christ, my beloved Kate.
1 trust, if Doctor Briich^ permits, as he gives
me hope he will, that I shall be with you to-
morrow or the nest day. God grant that
He may bring us home fresh and sound. I
sleep exceeding well about six or seven houra
together, and then one or two hours after-
wards. It is owing to the beer, I think ; but
I am temperate, as at Wittenberg. Doctor
Caspar^ says that the canker in the foot of
our most gracious lord does not spread fur-

' Gregory Briioh was Chancellor to the Elector.
' ProfesBor of Theology and Court Preacher at Wit-

ther; but no Dobitzch,^ nor prisoner on the
ladder in the prison of Hans the gaoler, ever
suffered such martyrdom .as his Electoral
Grace suffors from the surgeons. His Princely
Grace is as sound all over as a roach; but
the devil has bitten and stung his foot. Pray,
pray yet more. I hope that God will hear
us, as He has already done; for Dr. Caspar
considers that none but God can help here.
As Johannes^ will go away, it is necessary.

' Probably the name of some malefaGtor.

* On the same day, Luther wrote the following letter
of recommeudation for this servant :

" I, D, Martinus Luther, iireacbcr at Wittenberg,
beg, for Christ's sake, of all who loye God's Word, that
tb^ will favourably recommend the bearer of this letter,
Johannes NiBchmanii, who has faithfully, industriously,
and humbly served me for some years, and that they
will assist him to the utmost, on account of the Lord,
for whose sake be has served nie. As truly as our
Gospel and Christ Himself are'true, will this be, without
doubt, a pleasing and 'acceptable service to God. And
when I can return tliese good offices, I shall he always
willing and reiidy to do so. Herewith, God be with you.
"My own hand.

" TVwttiy after Rcndni

:, 1533."

66 Luthei^e LeUers to Women.

and boDour demands, that I should let him
depart in honour. For tou knov that be
has feithfullj and industriooslY served us,
and demeaned himself humbly according to
the Gospel, and done and home all things,
lie mindful how oft we hare given to good-
for-nothings and thankless scholars, on whom
it has been thrown away ; therefore be liberal,
and do not let such a pious fellow want, a&
you know that it is important, and pleasing
to Crod. I know well that there is little ii
hand; but I would gladly give him ten gul-
den if I had them. But you should not give
him less than five gulden, as he has no clothes.
Give what more yon can, I beg of you. There
might, indeed, be given, out of eonsideration
for me, somewhat out of the common chest
to such a servant, seeing that I must keep
my servants at my own cost for the service
and uee of the Church ; but let them do as.*
they please. Do not stint while there ia a
cup remaining. Think where you have
gained it all. God will certainly give some-
thing else — that I know. Herewith, God ba
with you. Amen.

To Ms Wife.

Ask the pastor of Zwickau^ to make shift
and be satisfied with the lodgings. When I
come, I will relate to you how Milhlfurt^ and
I were guests with Kiedtesel,^ and Muhlfurt
exhibited to me much knowledge; but I was
not in a mood for such drink. Fondle young
Hanscnfor me, and desire Hanschen,Lehnchen,
and cousin Lchncn to pray for me and the deal'
Prince. I caimot find any thing in this town,
although the fair is now going on, to buy for
the children. If I bring nothing especial, you

L must get me somewhat.

^^H D. Maetikus Lcther.

|. Tvetdaj/ ajier liejiiiniga., 1532.

1 Nicbolfl

* Burgemiaster at Zwiu

L' £leuloriil Treasurer, a

e of Lutlier'a truest friends.

id godfutber to Luther.

Luther's Liters to "Women.

LETTER XXIII.

To Frau Dorothea Jorger. March 7, 1532.

Aoswer to an offer of assiataace to poor students.

To tite noble, virtuous Lady Dorothea Jorger,
widow, at Toilet, my kind lady, and gooi
friend in Christ.

Gkace and peace in Christ. Noble, rir*
tuous lady, I have received your letter to ra^
together with the quince jam, as has also
my dear Kate hers, with the four Hungarian
gulden ; and we both thank you most kindly,'
T have also aent Herr Michel Stiefel his, and
expect the answer every hour. As you in-
quire in your letter how I think the five
hundred gulden you purpose for poor stu-
dents of the Holy Scriptures may best bf
ipplied, I have, together with Magisiro
Philippo} and other good gentlemen and
friends, considered it best, as it is to be ap-

' Melauothon.

To Pram Don&$a Jaryer. 69

plied to such a oecessair vni nsefiil wik^

that it should be pot oai at interest, that it
may be made useful for all time, and for
many. For one can render good aid by
means of such interest to ttro pensoos yearly,
if the money is well invested ; and we will
commend it to the conirol of the University
of Wittenbei^. Afterwards, I toot pains to
write to Lazarm Spengler,' Syndic at Norem-
berg, that he should inquire at Linz, through
trusty agents (as he knows well how to do),
for these gulden, and t^e them in virtue of
your handwriting, which I sent him with
mine (to be returned), begging him at the
same time to exert himself that they may
be booked and registered at the Town-hall at
Nuremberg, which would be the most secure;
if not, to send them to me, tliat they might
be otherwise put out. If this opinion pleases
you, the affair will be all straight. 1 will,
for my own part, do the best I can, and
rejoice that God has moved your heart to
bethink you of such a good work in Christ.
For, alas ! now among us, though GJod's Word
' A faitliful Eulhcrent of Luther.

70 Luther's Letters to Women.

be abundautly preached, almost to weariness,
of such grace there appears little or next to
nothing, but rather the reverse ; so that they
leaye their poor pastors almost to starve.
Whether it be nobles, peasants, or citizens,
every one is more inclined to rob .than to
help. But perhaps it is according to the
proverb : " The nearer Rome, the worse
Christian/' And as Christ says in Matthew
xii. 42 : " The queen of the south shall rise
up in the judgment with this generation, and
shall condemn it : for she came from tbe
uttermost parts of the earth," &c. To the
same dear Lord Jesus Christ I commend yoU'
together with all yours, and to his abundai>^
grace. Amen.

D. Martinus Luther.

Thv/raday after Oculi, 1532.

LETTER XXIV.

To Frau von Stockkausen.
November 27, 1532.

r advice concerning the depression

Ither givef
husband.

I To the honourable and virtaous Frau N. von
^^^KStockhausen, wife of the Captain at Nord-
^^^^■Hsn, my kind and good friend,

^^^Grace and peace in Christ. Honourable
and virtuous lady, I have written in haste
a consolatory note to your dear lord.- Now
the devil hates you both, because you love
Chriat, his enemy. For this He muat com-

' pensate you, as He Himself says : *' Because
I have chosen you, therefore the world (and
its prince) hatcth you : but be of good
cheer." The sufferings of his saints are pre-
cious in the sight of God. As I am in
haste, I can write little. Be careful not to
leave your husband one moment alone, nor
any thing with him wiiereby he might injure

Luther's Lettei'S to Wi

himself. Solitude is poison to him ; there-
fore the devil drives him to it. If you read,
or tell him histories, news, and remarkable
events, there is no harm, — even though there
were sometimes idle or false tittle-tattle, and
tales of Turks, Tartars, and the like, — if he be
excited thereby to laugh and joke ; and then,
speedily afterwards, cheering sentences from
the Holy Scriptures. Whatever you do,
leave him not alone, nor let there be silence
around him, that he may not sink into
thought. It does not signify if he is angry
about it. Act as if it were disagreeable to
you, and pretend to scold ; but let it be done
all the more. This must content you,-
much haste. Christ, who causes you sucbj
sorrow of heart, will help you, as He haal
lately done. Only hold fast to Him. Yoafl
are the apple of his eye ; whosoever touchesl
it, touches Himself. Amen.

DocTOH MAiiTimrs Luther.

At Wittenberg, Wednesday afiw
St. Catherine, 1632.

To Fran Jbrger.

LETTER XXV.

^^H To Frau Jorger. May 6, 1533.
^^H On the subject of Letter XXIII.

^^BGeace and peace to you. Honourable
and vii'tuous lady, your letter concerning the
I five hundred gulden, which ought to have been
I received at Linz last Easter, came to me too
} late. I have, nevertheless, accordiDg to your
[ request, begged of and admonished Martin
Seldener, through Herr Lazarus Spengler, that
he would obtain a bill of exchange, such as is
customary, and send it to Nuremberg. How-
ever, I should have preferred, as I had before
written, that you should yourself have for-
I warded it in the safest way you could ;
having also observed from your letter, that
you would be better pleased to give this
alma out of hand to poor students than to
put it to interest ; if you remain of this
opinion, I will not dissent.

must not vex yourself, nor be dis-

74 Luther 8 Letters to Women.

turbed, because a preacher has given you
anxiety, on account of your son and of the
judge, as Herr Michel has informed me. Let
them go to law with one another ; the affair
does not personally concern you : the law
will soon settle the business, and your con-
science need not be troubled about it.^ God
be with you, and your dear children, and all
yours. Amen.

Your devoted

D. Martinus Luther

(still ailing).

Datum Wittenberg,
May 6, 1533.

^ Nothing more is known of this family concern.

To Prau Jorger. 75

^^m^ LETTER XXVI.

^^HTo Frau Jorger. October 24, 15^2.

^^H On the subject of Letters XXIU. XXV.

^^^B'Gb^'^e to you, and peace in Christ.
f Noble and virtuous lady, I have to inform you

I' that the five hundred gulden, in good soUd
coin, on your account, have arrived, through
Wolfgang SelJener, at Leipzig, and have been
forwarded by George Kirmeyer from thence
to Wittenberg ; and I will dispense them
according to your request and desire, not
forgetting Herr Andres. And I have al-
ready, with the advice of certain good friends
and gentlemen, decided on the disposal of one
I hundred. But the same good gentlemen
and friends have suggested, that if the other
I four hundred were put out to interest, and
thus two exhibitions founded, two students
would be assisted every three j'cars. But 1
answered that, according to your letter, it
your will that they should be distribute

L^My

I 76 Luthei's Letters to Women.

I at once. They begged of me, however, to
I write, and ask you whether it was still your

determination to distribute this money forth-
\ with among these poor fellows who study the
I Holy Scriptures, or whether it might be used
I for the foundation of two perpetual student-
I ships, — which they consider would be for the
I best. According to their request, I therefore
I now write to you, and beg that you will once

more write to me what you wish and think
st, and I will faithfully execute it. Mean-
I whUe, iu order that I may not show disre-
I spect to the request of these good gentlemen,
1 the four hundred gulden shall remain in
I hand till I obtain your answer. Herewith,

may . God preserve you and all yours, and
I may He be well pleased with your faithful

work to his praise and honour ! Amen.
Michel' has experienced a small trial ;
I but it will not injure him — rather, God be
' praised, profit him.

D. Maktinus Lutheh.

October 24, 1533.

' Michel Stiefel had propheaied the near approach
I of the last day, and waa in much trouble concerning it

To Frau Jorger.

Receipt.
I, Martin Luther, D. and Preacher at
Wittenberg, acknowledge by this my band*
writing that 500 fl., in good soli-l coin, have
been dehvered to me here at Wittenberg in
my little study, on behalf of the noble and
virtuous Frau Dorothy Jorger, widow : to be
distributed among poor fellows who study
the Holy Scriptures, as she has begged me
to do by letter. This money has been de-
livered to me through George Fonwibler,
citizen of Leipzig, agent of Andreas Kir-
meyer, of Nuremberg. Done the 24th
October 1530. Signed and sealed with my

iual signet.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER XXVII.

\ To the Abbess of ffervord, in WestphaM.

Written together with Melandhon. Jan-
uary 15, 1534.

Answer to the complaiuts of the Princess AbbeM
l^of encronchmenta ou her rights.

iffo the honourable, high-horn Lady, Anna Fraulexv
von Limpurg, Abbess of the chartered, nobk
Convent at Hervord, our gracious lady.

Geace and peace through our Lord Jesua

rChrist. Honourable and higli-born lady, since

lyour Grace complains that certain persons

I at Hervord attempt to encroach upon your

I Grace's jurisdiction, and to obtain forcibly

I money and other privileges, know that I,

; Doctor JIartinus, have always written aud

taught most diligently that the distinction of

authority should be upheld, and that no one

should seek to rule in another's jurisdictioD,

nor take or withdraw the revenue of others,

or the like. Therefore the said proceedings.

To the Abbess of Servord. 79

concerning which jour Grace writes, we dis-
approve ; and heartily wish that those who
would thus violently act should bethink them
that such conduct dishonours the holj Gos-
pel, and causes it to be hated, which justly
grieves every pious Christian. Wo have,
therefore, written to Doctor Johann Dreger,
and admonished and begged of hira not to
participate in such violence aud injustice, but
to censure such as would practise it, and ex-
hort them to Christian love, which he, as
preacher, is bound to do. But the desire of
your Grace, that we should write to the
Council, we have considered not likely to be
profitable, although we tlo uot know exactly
what the Church regulations at Hervord may
be. But we beg of your Grace, in what con-
cerns the necessary Church offices, to bear
with patience the circumstances of these
times, and not to seek your rights too sharply
in every thing ; because your Grace knows
that hitherto in many places the churches
have been badly supplied both with parsons
and with maintenance for them. If, however,
certain fortunate changes should have hap-

80 Luther's Letters to Women.

pened in the exigencies of the Church,
beg that your Grace will nevertheless, for tb^
sake of peace, have patience ; but we do aot
approve that certain persons should, contraT^
to the will of the authorities, take Churc^b
property for building the city walls. Msi-J
God always preserve your Grace ! The 1 1 1^-
sent here by your Grace we return ; and a^^^
ever ready to serve your Grace.

Martinus Ltjther.
Philippus Melancthon.

Given at Wittenberg ,
Thursday^ January 15, 1534.

To Frau Jorger.

^V LETTER XXVIII.

^H To Frau Jorger. April 27, 1534.

r Oa the subject of Letter XXVI.

1 Geacb to you, and peace in Christ.

Honourable and virtuous lady, I write to in-
form you that — God be praised ! — your alms
have been well laid out, and have given aid
to many poor, and do so still ; and I cannot
doubt that God, who ha.s put it into your
heart to do this, will openly show that it is
well pleasing to Him as a precious thank-
offering, whereby you acknowledge and
praise the mercy which He has shown you
through his Son Jesus Christ. May God
strengthen you in steadfast faith, and happily
accomplish the work He has begun in you !
Amen. I lUd not myself know, nor could I
have believed, that there were in this small
town and poor school so many clever and
pious fellows, who have lived on bread and
water, and have suffered cold and frost, that

Luther's Letters to Women.

they might be able to study God'a Word and
Scriptures, to whom your alms have been a
great comfort and refreshment. I have already
dispensed above half, and received testiraouT
that it has been given to upright fellows, not
to worthless lads. I have not delayed telling
you this, that you might know how your
money is being spent. I have given ti
Andres more than the others: first 10 fl.
then again 10 fl., and among the others 2, 3
and 4 fl. each, according to the advice of
good friends ; and they are all glad and
thankful. This httle book is sent you as &
token, by desire of Michel Stiefel, to whom*
as he is without a benefice, I have given 10 fl.;
and he greets you heartily. Christ be witli
you, and all yours. Amen.

Mabtinus Luther, D.

Mondaij aflcr JiMaU, 1534.

From Court, whi
the illnees of the Elector.

To my kind and dear master, Fran Katherine .
von Bora D. Lviherin, at Wittenberg.

Geace and peace in Christ. Dear Hen-
Kate, I have nothing to write to you, as
M. Philipp and the otiiers are returning
home. I must remain here longer, on ac-
count of the piOus Prince. You may judge
how long I am likely to remain here, and
bethink you how you may help to release
me. I expect that M. Franciscua' will relieve
me, as I did him, but not so soon. Yesterday
I had bad stuff to drink, and was made to
ODg. It is an anuoyaaco to mc to have bad
wine to drink, when I remember what good
wine and beer I have at home, besides a
pretty wife — or, shall I say it, master 1 You

I Franz Burkharil, Electoral Vice- Chancellor.

84 Luther's Letters to Wo^nen.

would do well to send over to me a whole cellar
full of my wine, and a bottle of your beer as
often as you can ; for I shall not return till
you have the new beer. Herewith, God be
with you and our children, and all the foil.
Amen.

Your beloved.

Mart. Luther, D.

Wednesdcof after Jacobiy 1534.

To an Unknown Person.

LETTER XXX.

To cm Unhnown Person. March 7, 1535.

Whether the Lord's Supper might be received in
Irath kinda at home.

God's grace to you, and peace in Christ.
Honourable and virtuous ladj, your dear
brother N. has informed me how desirous
you are of the holy Sacrament in both kinds,
and doubtful whether you may receive them
privately in your own house.

Although there has been such a custom
in Popedom, and the element has been ad-
ministered in houses at private mass, yet, for
the Bake of example, and other reasons, I
cannot advise it. For in the course of time
every one might so use it, that the general
assembly and church would thereby be aban-
doned and deserted, so that it would no
longer be a public and general profession.
On the other hand, if it can be done, and
you wish for it, and will venture, your con-

86 Luther^ s Letters to Women.

science approving, then do it, in God's name,
to whom I recommend you in my poor
prayers.

D. Mabt. Luther.

Gioen, Dominica Ldtare.

Oracb to you, and peace in Christ. Vir-
tuous, honourable, and dear lady, Master An-
dres has told me that he cannot go to you
without a letter from me, explaining that the
air of this place does not suit his health, and
drives him away : he will tell you all the
circumstances. It is as the Scripture says :
" Some are hungry ; others are full," With
you there is a hunger and thirst for the
Word of God ; with us many are so satiated
and weary, that it must grieve God. Well,
the world is the world ; God help us all. Your
alms have, God be praised, helped many good
people who study diligently the Holy Scrip-
tures ; for many who have been driven from
other countries for the Word's sake, and lived
among us on bread and water, have been
made glad, in that they have been enabled

88 Luther s Letters to Women.

by jonr alms to buy books, and sometimes
dothing. It will be well pleasing to Christ
oar Lord, who has put it into your heart to
do it. I, as Master Andres will tell you, am
sometime strong, sometime well, sometime
joyful, sometime sad. But Christ is at all
times the Lord, and will, shall, can, and must
ever remain so. Amen. Master Michel Stie-
fel has again a benefice, and is now better
than before. Christ our dear Lord guard,
strengthen, and prepare you and all yours
for his blessed future, together with us all.
We wish and gladly desire that He may come
soon ; for the world will every where become
wicked. This helps us to pray against this
same world.

Mabtinus Luther, D.

Thivrsday after Ambrosius, 1535.

LETTER XXXII.

To the same. September 12, 1535.

Geace to jou, and peace in ChiTst, witli
my poor Paternoster, &c. Revered and dear
lady, I have heard Master Andres, and re-
ceived your letter ; and I thank you for the
gift, especially on account of the little gros-
chen, although I would gladly be sure whether
it were a genuine one, because it looks so
new ; but it may be counterfeit, or a cast.
Master Andres has also informed me that
you would bo glad to know whether, with a
good conscience (if the pastor will allow it),
you can have the Gospel preached for your
own houaehold alone, the other parishioners
being excluded. If you have permission from
the pastor to have it in the house, you may
use it till you are prevented by force ; for
you are not bound to interfere on behalf of
others against the dictates of the authorities.
Every one must take his own hazard, and

Luther's Letters to Women.

abide his own venture. For the rest, do no!
be disturbed if the preacher is not anointed
and shaven by the bishop ; for they are not
consecrated to the office of preacher, but for
secret mass, and are priests of Baal and
Jeroboam. He who is called is consecrated,
and should preach to those who call him ; J
that is our Lord God's consecration, and thei
true anointing oil. My wife greets you and!
yours kindly. Herewith, God be with you. *
Amen.

Maktinus Luthek, D.

At WiUeiAerg, Sunday after the
birth of<ner dear Lady, 153d.

LETTER XXXIII.
To the same. Jv2y 13, 1536.

She WM aniioQs lest there should arise strife be-
twixt her BODS and daughters, on account of their ma-
tenial inheritance. The daughters had resigned it ; but
the mother wishea tliem to have an equal share with
the sons, who would not agree to it. Luther gives his
■•l^'ce, and begs for the prolongation of maintenance
*** » person in need.

'o the much honoured noble lady, Dorothea Jtir-
ger, widow, at Keppach, my kind lady and
good friend.

Grace and peace in Christ. Much-hon-
***red, dear lady. Master Andrea Hechel has >
■old me of your wish to make a will for the
•^Vantage of your daughters, but that your
'ons will not consent, because your daughters
^ve beforehand resigned both their paternal
^d maternal portion ; and you ask good
Counsel thereupon. My opinion is, that if
you can further it with your sons by kind-
Jieas, 80 that they may consent, it may be

Luther's Letters to Women.

accomplished ; but if that cannot be, and if
your daughters have already resigned their
claim, your conscience need not be troubled
if you are not able to restore what they have
given up. Therefore do not vex yourself
therewith.

Besides this. Master Andres has asked
me to write and beg of you to extend your
bounty to bim till Easter, and thus enable i
him to continue bis study this short space of I
time. Thus you will act kindly and Chris-
tianly. Herewith, God be with you, and all
yours. My better half, Frau Kate, sends
you friendly greeting.

Mabtinus Luthbe, D.

AC WiUenhtrg, Monday after
St. Jacobi, 1536.

LETTER XXXIV.
To his Wife. February 27, 1537.
lAitber, from Qotba, informs her of an attack of ill-

6raoe to you, and peace in Christ. Dear
Kate, you may for the present hire such
horses as you are in need of; for my gra-
cious lord will keep your horses, and send
home M. Philipp with them. For I myself
yesterday set out from Schmalkalden, and tra-
velled from thence in my gracious lord's own
carriage. The reason of this is, that I have
not been in good health for three days, and
have neither rested nor slept, nor been able
to eat or drink. In short, I have been nigh
wito death, and did commend you and my
diildren to God and my good lord, aa though
I should never see you again. I had much
pity for you, but had resigned myself to the
grave. Now, however, the tears of many
people and earnest prayers to God have so

94 Luther's LetUrs to Women.

worked, that it appears to me I am bora
again.

Therefore thank God, and let the dear
children and coosio Lenen thank the true
Father ; for you would assuredly hare lost
this father. The pious Prince has set people
running and riding and fetching, and tried
to the utmost of his power to aid me ; but it
was of no avail. Your skill and remedy also
have done nothing. God has done wondera
for me, and has done it through the intei^
cession of pious people.

I write this to you, for I believe that my
gracious lord has ordered the Land Vogt
(Governor) to send you to me, lest I should
die on the road, that you might ere that
and speak to me ; but it is now unnecessary,
and you may remain at home, as God has
80 abundantly aided me, that I look forward
to a joyful return to you. To-day we stay
at Gotha, I have besides this written to you
four times, and wonder much you have re-
ceived nothing.

Maktisus Luthee.

Tuesday ofier Eemmitcere, 1537.

LETTER XXXV.

? an Unknown Person. May 24, 1537.
Short letter of consolation.

Oeacb and peace to my dear Frau N,
. ■wished to write to jou earlier; but
ister N. was gone sooner than I expected,
and I thought that if your lord had returned
liome, it would, God willing, fare better with
you. But you must not be so faint-hearted
and despairing ; but remember that Christ is
Dear, and helpa you to bear evil ; for He has
not so forsaken you as to give you up to your
own earthly nature. Only call upon Him
■with earnest heart, and you may be assured
that He will hear you, because you know that
it is his nature to help, strengthen, and com-
fort all those who desire it of Him.

Be therefore comforted, and think that
He Himself has sufTered far more for you

> you can ever suffer on cither your own

96 Luther^s Letters to Women.

or his account. We will also pray, and pray
earnestly, that Grod will accept you in his
Son Christ, and strengthen you in such weak-
ness of hody and soul. Herewith, Grod be
with you. Amen.

Mabtikus Luther.

On WhU-Manday, 1537.

LETTER XSXVI.

To the Duchess Elizabeth of Bru
September 4, 1538.

llianka For a preaent — Sends some cuttings.

Geace to you, and peace iii Christ. Jlost

serene and high-born Princess and gracious

Lady, I and my dear Kate thank your

Princely Grace for the cheese. This present

] is the more dear to ua, even though it were

less, as your Serene Higliness, by Gods

grace, shows such an earnest regard for his

j Holy Word. And we pray that the Father

, of all mercy, through his dear Son, may

abundantly endow your Princely Grace with

his Holy Spirit, and preserve you to the day

of eternal redemption. We commend our-

S-to your Princely Grace as willing
ts. Amen. I send herewitli to your
ly Grace plants of mulberry and f

98 InUher^s Letters to Women.

trees, as many as I have at present. Besides
these, I have nothing rare.

Your Princely Grace^s devoted,

Mabtinus Luther.

Wednesday after jEgidiy 1538.

To Ursula Schneideicin.

LETTER XXXVII.

To Ursula Schneidewin, at StoUberg.
June 4, 1539.

To the honourable, virtuous lady Ursula Schiieide-
win, widow, citizen a£ StoUberff, my kind, good

friend.

Geace and peace in Christ. Honourable,
virtuous, dear Laiy, I have written to you
concerning your son John, that he has con-
ceived a great love for an honourable maiden
here ; and as you must have received my opi-
nion, I hoped you might have given a favour-
able answer ; but as the delay appears to me
too long, I feel it necessary to urge you further.
For I am not unfavourably disposed towards
him, and would not that he should be driven
to despair. As, therefore, the maiden so
greatly pleases bim, is not unequal to him in
station, and is besides a gentle, good girl, of
honourable extraction, it appears to me you
may well be contented, as he has bumbled

himself as a child, and begged for the maiden
as did Samson. Therefore it is fitting for
you, as a loving mother, to give your con-
sent; for though we have written that chil-
dren should not betroth themselves without
the consent of their parents, we have also
written, that parents should not, nor, accord-
ing to God's will, can control or hinder their
children at their own pleasure. No son
should bring a daughter to his parents with-
out their consent; but also a father should
not force a wife upon his son. They should
do their best on both sides, otherwise the
son's wife must become the father's daughter
without his approval. Who knows what
happiness God may provide for your son by
means of this maiden, which, perhaps, other-
wise may be lost to him, especially as the
good maiden gives fair hopes, is not unequal
in station, and her sorrow might become a
curse "i In short, I beg you will no longer
delay your assent, that the good fellow may
be reUeved from his disquiet. For I cannot ,
delay longer ; but must take measures on ac- '
count of my office. But I beg you will not

let this letter be known to your son John ;
for he ought not to know it till the matter is
settled, that he may not be too confident and
bold. For I love hini, of which he is well
worthy, on account of his goodness, and there-
fore would not advise him to his harm. There-
fore do your part as a mother, and relieve him
from this torment, that he may not be obliged
to do it Id spite of you. Herewith, God bo
"with you. Amen.

Maktinus Luther, Dk.

afier Trinity, 1539.

Luther's Letters to Wom^.

LETTER XSXVIII.
To the same. July 10, 1539.

I Geace to you, and peace in Christ. Hon-

I ourable and virtuous lady, I have, if I am

^^L not mistaken, written to you twice concern-
^^B ing your son John, who, as a good sod, has
^^^ begged you, through me, to show yourself a
kind mother, as you ought, and give your
consent to his marriage with this maiden,
thereby doing his duty as a son, aa Samson
did to his parents. I have also told you that
I can no longer delay, but think fit, as I puT'-
pose faithfully by him, that he should be de-
livered from this danger ; for I see that his
studies are hindered, and that no good can
come if you are so harsh with him. What X
do is for your honour: she is his equal, tha
child of good people. Besides, you must
think you that it is not bearable that the
children of other people should be excited to
love, and afterwards, without cause, neglected,

which you would hardly suffer to be done by
your children ; therefore it must not be, es-
pecially where it is a question of marriage. I
have further written and advised that you
should not refiise, that we may not be com-
pelled to proceed notwithstanding. I have
indeed written that children should not be-
troth themselves without the consent of theii-
parents ; but I have also written, that pa-
rents should not hinder their children; and,
in short, I cannot now repeat what I have
written to you before, and I justly wonder
that I have received no answer. It is so
annoying to me that ray boarder should de-
lude our citizen's daughter, that I again beg
you will give a speedy, favourable answer,
otherwise we must do what we can to pre-
vent scandal. You have been sufficiently en-
treated: when parents will not decide, the
pastor must. If you are anxious how he is
to maintain himself, remember that one must
put one's trust in God, who gives his support
to the married state; I will never, as long as
I Uve, abandon John: nevertheless, he him-
self will, God willing, prosper without my

104 Luther^ s Letters to Women.

help. I therefore beg you will show signs
of life; for I am weary of writing so often
on a matter in which you have no reason to
object, otherwise I must suppose that you
behave yourself thus to me on account of
your son, which would be annoying to me,
as I have always intended kindly by you and
yours. Herewith, God be with you. Amen.
And a short, right answer from you.

Mabtinus Lutheb, Dr.

Thwraday afier Kiliani, 1539.

■ LETTER XXXIX.

To the Duchess Katheriiie of Saxomi.
July^i, 1539.

^B^Bft request conceniing tlie management of the Chureli
vlutation in the dorainious of Duke Henry, tlio hue-
band of Katherine.

To Uie se7-ene, high-horn Princess and Lady, Kath-
erine, bom Duchess of Mecklenhurgi Duchess of
^- ■ Sascony, Landgravine of Thuringia, and Mar-
H^Bpratn'ne of Meissen, my gracious lady.

C' Grace and peace in Christ. Serene, high-
born Princess, and gracious Lady ; as my
gracious lord Duke Henry is old and weak, anil
the government new, difficult, and over-much
for his Princely Grace ; and, indeed, Mastei'
Antonius' alone, with those near him. cannot
do all ; and as I hope your Princely Grace
has less work, — my humble request is, that
your Princely Grace would somotimea help

K;e on matters, and desire that the visi-
' AntoniuB Lnuterbach, pastor at Leipzig.

106 Luther's Letters to Women.

tatioQ may proceed with proper dignity ; for
there are certain bad people at Leipzig who
constantly hope that it may be delayed, and
finally fall to ashes. A little book also is
about to be put forth against the visitors ;
if that be so, we must answer it. Here might
Y. P. G. help, that a flame may not burst.
out. They have, perhaps, their abettors,
and need stem measures, that they may
learn obedience ; otherwise, it would appear'
that they let one order what one will, and'
they do what they please. May Y. P, G.
turn your mind with gr-acious diligence
honour the Word of God, and to guard
against the devil ; this will be the most
agreeable sacrifice and prayer to God the
Father, to whose grace I commend Y. P. Gr,-
Amen,

Your Princely Grace's obedient,

MAHTiNua Luther.

afier Jacohi, 15S9.

LETTER XL.

I To Dorothea, the wife of B. Mackenrol, at
^^^^Eossla, Luther's Sister. December %

' Announcement of Lis visit at Bossia ; but this letter

is probably of an earlier period thun would appear from
iU date.

To be delioered to Frau Dorothea, the beloved Wife
^^^o/" HeiT Balthazar Mackenrot, attendant on,
^^^Uff Prince, at Rossla.

\ letter vo

EAE SiSTEE, — I have seen, from the
letter you Bent me, how your deeply troubled
conscience longa for the comfort of evangeli-
cal preaching, and how you desire that you
may aome day hear it in your church at
Rossla. I have greatly rejoiced thereat ; and
have now resolved in God, if He grants me
health and strength, to be with you certainly
on the approaching holy Christmas Eve, and,
by God's help, to begin the first evangelical
preaching at Rossla and Upper Rossla, and

108 LiUher's Letters to Women.

to perform it as a remembrance. Greet yom*
husband and little daughter Margaret, to
whom I will bring something; and God be
with you.

Mabtinus Lutheb, D.

Given at JSiskben,
Dec. 2, 1539.

To Eli&tbeth Duchess of Brurmoich. 109

LETTER XLT.

To the Duchess Elizabeth of Brunswich.
January 29, 1540.

Letter of recommeDdation.

To the most serene, high -horn Princess and
Lady, Fran Elizabeth, bom Margravine of
Brandenburg, and Duchess of Bnmswick and
Lun^urg, my gracious lady.

Grace and peace in Christ. Most serene,
high-boi'n Princess, gracious LaJy, the bearer
of this, Mag:ister Justus Waldhausen, son of
a citizen at Hamel, called to be Recorder
there, has begged of me to write to your
Princely Grace, aa ho has now for twelve
years been accustomed to our Gospel, which,
perhaps, ia not in use at Hamel. May Y.P.G.
please to be gracious to him, and protect him
as much as possible ; and also request your
princely husband to hold such-Hke persons in
esteem. For, as Y. P. G, will perceive, he is
■A learned, clever, pious man, such as one does

110 Luther's Letters to Women.

not often find. May Y. P. G. be graciously
inclined to him : it will be for the advantage
of the people and country, as he can and will
be useful. By this, Y. P, G. also will do es-
pecial service. Herewith, I commend you to
the dear God. Amen.

Your Princelj^ Grace's obedient,

Martinus Luthxb.

Thursday after the Conversion
of St. Paul, 1540.

' To the Bwshees Katheriw o/* Saxony. Ill

LETTER XLII.

5'o the Duchess Katkerine of Saxony.
June 25, 1540.

Lnther again recommends to her the cause of the
^Xteformation.

I AGAIN pray of Y. P. G., with all sub-
emission, that you will, as you gave me at
Xeipzig great hopes you would, earnestly and
diligently help the churches and schools, that
they may not be forgotten nor neglected.
This is the highest service you can render to
God. For I hear and see much that I should
not have expected, and which truly displeases
me ; not that my displeasure signifies much,
unless it be displeasing to God Himself, and
cannot come to a good end. God grant
Y. P. G. courage, so to see and do (as God
has given Y. P. G. power and opportunity to
act), that the dear Gospel may be received in
the principahty, and continue there.
. iTor there are many and great secret

112 Ltdher's Letters to Women.

enemies among us, who boast themselves
great lovers of the Word, and yet, in their
hearts, hate those who deliver it ; which is
a most pernicious and churlish trick, extin-
guishing the dear Gospel by much and great
extolling. May Y. P. G. accept this from
me in good part, and graciously. For how
can I desist ? and how would it become me
not to care for the dear Gospel, or to hear
any thing to its detriment silently ? Herewith,
I commend you to the dear God. Amen.

Your Princely Grace's obedient,

Martinus Lutheb.

Friday after Joha ike
Baptist, 1540.

LETTER XLIII.

To Us Wife. July 16, 1540.

Written from Eisenach, where Luther was attend-
ing a meeting.

To my gracious Qirl, Katherine Luther von Bora
and Zidsdorf, at Wittenberg, my darling.

Geace and peace, my dear girl, and wife
Kate. Your Grace must be informed that
■we all here are — God be praised I — fresh and
sound : we eat like behemoths (yet not
much), and drink like Germans (yet not
much), and are joyous. For our gracious
Lord of Magdeburg, Bishop Amsdarf, is our
messmate. We have no other news than that
D. Caspar, Mecum,^ and Menius,^ have made
an excursion from Hagenau' to Strasburg, to

' Mecnm, or Frederic Myconiua, first superintend-
ent at Gotba.

^ Justus Menius, superintendent at Gotha ; died
professor at Thomas College, at Leipzig.

• At Hagenau there was a religious conference,
1

114

Luther s Letters to WowKn,

do honoar and service to Hans von Jehnen.'
M. Fhilippus is well again,^ God be praised 1
Tell my dear D. Schiefer^ that his King
Ferdinand holds forth as though he would
invite the Turks to be sponsors for the evao-
gelical Princes.* I hope it is not true, for
it would be too bad. Write to me again
whether you have got all I sent you ; that is,
90 fl. by Wolf Paermami, &c. God be with
you. Amen. Make the children pray.
There is an indescribable and unbearable
heat and sterility here, day and night. MaJ
the dear last day come soon. Amen. Thg
Bishop of Magdeburg greets you kindly.
Your darling,

Maktin Luther,

Friday ajler Margaret-
day, 1540.

' Duke John of Sasony.
^ Philipims was very ill on the journey.
* He had been tutor of the Princes at Ferdinand^
Court, and diamiaaed aa an adherent of Luther.
'* A facetious threat.

To his Wife. 115

LETTER XLIV,
To th^ same. July 26, 1540.

To the rich lady of Zulsdorf, Frau Doctor Katfie-
rina Luther, dwelling in hotly at WxUenberg,
and wandering in spirit to ZiUsdor/: to be
delivered inio the Itands of my darling; if
absent, to be opened and read by D. Pomeran,
Pastor.

Phay arrange that vte may find a good
supply of beer with you ; for, God willing,
we shall be at Wittenberg on Tuesday morn-
ing. The Diet at Hagenau is all muck, lost
trouble and labour, and useless expense ; yet,
if we have done nothing more, we have
fetched M. Philipp again from liell, and will
bring him home again joyfully from the grave,
God wiUing, and by his gi-ace. Amen. The
devil here is himself possessed with new bad
devils, and burns and does frightful niiscliief
More than a thousand acres of wood belong-
ing to my gracious lord in the Timrlngian
■wood have been burnt, and are burning. Be-

Luther'a ItdHera ie Women.

sides this, we have to-day news that the
woods at Werda and in many more places are
alsodestroyed ; there ia no extiaguishiag them,
. That will make wood dear. Pray yourself,
and cause others to do so, against the malig-
nant Satan, who seeks vehemently not only
our souls and bodies, but our property and
honour. May Christ our Lord come from
heaven, and blow up a spark for the devil
and his associates that he cannot extinguish !
Amen. I am not certain whether this letter
will find you at Wittenberg or at Ziiladorf,
else I would have written more. God bo'
with you. Amen. Greet our children, board-
ers, and all.

Your darling,

M. LuTHEn, D.

Monday afUr Jacobus, 1540,

To Ms Wife.

LETTER XLV.

To the same. September 18, 1541.

lifltherine was probably at her property at ZiiUtlorf.

Grace and peace to you. Dear Kate, I
send Urban to you with this, that you may
not be frightened if any alarm about the
Turks should reach you. I wonder that you
have not written or sent, as you well know
that we ai'e not without anxiety about you
here, as Meiuz, Heinz, and many of the nobles
at Meissen, are very inimical to us. Dispose
of and arrange what you can, and come homo ;
for it appears to me that it will rain miro,
and God will visit our sins with the rod of
lu8 anger. God be with you. Amen.
M. LUTHEB.
Sunday after Lampertus, l.')41.

118 Luther's Letters to

Womtn. I

XL VI.
Luther's Will. January 6, 1542.
It waa confirmed by the Elector ia 1566.

I, Mabtin Lcther, certify, in this my own
handwriting, that I have given to my true
and loving wife Katherine, aa dowry (ofj
whatever else one may call it), for her wholft
life, for her pleasiire and advantage, and d(
give ber by virtue of this letter at present
and this day :

First, the Utile property of ZUladorf, aa I
have bought and arranged it, and in all re^
Bpects as I have hitherto had it.

Secondly, the house of Bruno, for a dwell-
ing, which I bought under the name
my " Wolf."^

Thirdly, the goblets and ornaments, sut

' Luther hod bought it of Pastor Bruno, a peasaid
tinder the name of his amanuenais, Wolfgang Siebergn

Luiker'sWill. U9 J

as rings, chains and medals, gold and silver,
value about 1000 fl.

I do 80 for these reasons :
First, because she has always loved and
esteemed me as her pious, true, and lawful
husband, to whom she has borne and reared,
through God's abundant blessing, five living
children ; and God grant they may long
continue so.

Secondly, that she may take upon her
and pay any debts I have incurred (in case I
should not be able to do so during my life),
■which may be, as far as I know, 450 fl., but
may perhaps be found to be more.

Thirdly and chiefly, that I desire the
children' to look to her for support, not she to
the children ; and that they may hold her

' Luther's children were : 1. Johp, borp June 7,
1626 ; (lied at Konigsberg, October 28, 1572, Doctor
ofLav. 2. Elizabeth, bom December 10, 1537 ; died
August 3, 1528. 3. Magdalen, horn May 4, 1529;
died October 20, 1542. 4. Martin, horn November 7,
1531 ; died March 3, 1565. 5. Paulua, horn January
38, 1533 ; died March 8, 1593, physician. G. Marga-
ret, bora December 16, 1534, wife of the Herr von
Kimheim ; died 15T0,

.SJ'vV

120

Luther's Leiiers U> TTomen.

in honour, and be subject to her, as God baa'
commanded. For I have truly seen and ex-
perienced bow the devil excites and provoke»
children against this law, even when they ar*
good, through malicious and envious gabblei
especially when the mothers are widows, and
the sons get wives, and the daughters hus-
bands ; and again, socrus nurum, nurus
socrum. For I consider that the mother
will be the best guardian to her own chil-
dren, and will make use of such dowry
and property, not to the injury and detri-
ment of the children, "but for their use
and advantage ; for they are her own flesh
and blood, and she has borne them under
her heart.

And though she should be necessitated or
find reason (for I can place no limit to the'
works and will of God) to change her state,
yet I trust and have perfect confidence that
she will demean herself as a mother to all
her children, and divide all faithfully, be it:
dowry or aught else, as is right.

And I herewith submissively beg of the
high and mighty lord, Duke John Frederic,

Elector, &c., that H. P. G. will maintain and
protect all such gifts or dowries.

I also beg of all my good friends that
they will be witnesses for my dear Kate, and
help to exculpate her if gossiping tongues
should molest or calumniate her, as though
she kept back certain ready money which she
would embezzle or purloin from the poor
children. I bear witness that there is no
ready money, but only the goblets and jewels
mentioned above in the dowiy. And, indeed,
the reckoning may be publicly uiade by
every one, because it is known how much
income I have received from my high and
mighty lord, and beyond that, not a penny ;
nor have we received a mite from any one,
except such presents as are mentioned above
among the jewels, or the portion which is put
down as debt. And that, with such an in-
come and presents, I should have been able
to afford to build and buy so much, and main-
tain so large and heavy a household expendi-
ture, I consider aa a special and wonderful
blessing, and that it is no wonder that 1 have
left no ready money, but rather dcbta. This

Luther's Letters to Women.

therefore I beg ; for the devil, though he could
not come nigh to me, might in all ways seat
after my Kate, if only for the reason that she
has been the wedded wife of the man D, M.,
and, God be praised, is so still.

Lastly, I beg of every one, as in this gift
or dowry I have not used legal forma or
■words (for which I have had reasons), to
allow me to be the person, which in truth I
am, known both in heaven and earth, and
also in hell, of sufficient consideration and
authority to be trusted more than any notary.
For if God, the Father of all mercy, has in-
trusted to me, a poor, unworthy, miserable
sinner, the Gospel of his dear Son, and has
likewise made me faithful, and true therein,
and has hitherto found and kept me thus, — aa-
that many have accepted the same through,
me, and consider me a teacher of truth, in
spite of the Pope's law, and the wrath of the
emperor, kings, prmces, priests, nay, of all
devils, — shall I not much more be believed in
this so small a matter, especially as here is my
handwriting, bo well known ; therefore I hope
it will be sufficient when it can be shown and.

Luther's Will. 123

said, This is the earnest and well-considered
intention of D. M. L. (God's notary, and wit-
ness of his Gospel), done by his own hand

and seal.

M. L.

Witnessed by Melancthon, Cruciger, and
Bugenhagen.

Done cmd given on the day of
Epiphomy, 1542.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER XLVII.

To the Widow of J. Cellarius.^
May 8, 1542.

Letter of consolation,

Geacb to you, and peace in Christ, hon-
ourable, virtuous, aad dear ladj. I hare
■with sorrow learnt how God the dear Father
has chastised jou and us also with his rod, in
taking away from jou and us the dear man
Johanu Cellarius, your Iiusband, which
grief to us all, though he ia in happy, blisaftil
reat. But be comforted by this,— that your
sorrow is not the greatest experienced by the
children of men ; there are many who suffer
and endure a hundred times more. And if all
our sufferings on earth were piled up iu
they would be as nothing compared with
■what the guiltless Son of God has suffered
for us and our salvation ; for no death can

' Professor of Hebrew at Leipzig.

To the Widow of J. CeUarius. 125

be compared with the death of our Lord and
Saviour Christ, through whose death we are
all saved from eternal death.

Be therefore comforted in the Lord, who
haa died for you and all, and is worth more
than we men, women, and children, and all
are ; for we are his, whether we die or live, arc
rich or poor, or however it may be. And if
we are his. He also is ours, with all that He
is and has. Amen. I commend you to his
grace. My Kate sends you comfort in God.
Monday afler Cantate, 1542.

Luther's Leiters to Women.

LETTER XLVIII.

To one unknown. January U, 1543.

To give ]>eace of conacience.

Gkacb and peace in the Lord. My dea*^
Frau Margarita, jour brother Johannes ha*
informed me how your heart is troubled by
the Evil Spirit, whereby you have uttered
8uch wicked words. I would . that the devil
would fetch away all those who have so ad-
vised you, that thus he may torment and
prompt you, as if you were to remain eter-
nally his.

Ah, dear Margarita, as you feel and con-
fess that it is the Evil Spirit who has dragged
such words from you, and that it is his wicked
suggestion, be assured that all he suggests
are lies; as "he is a liar, and the father of
lies" (John viii. 44). For assuredly it is not
suggested by Christ that you should belong
to the devil, seeing that He has died that
those who are under the power of the devil

To one tinknown. ]27

Doay be released from him. Therefore do
thus to the devil : spit at him, and say, " Have
I Binned 1 Alas I I have sinned, and it grieves
me; but I will not despair; for Christ haa
borne and taken awaj all my sins — nay, those
of the whole world, if they only confess their
sins, amend, and beheve in Christ, who com-
manded ' that repentance and remission of
sins should be preached in his name among
all nations' (Luke xxiv. 4). And what should
I do if I had committed murder, adultery —
nay, had cnicificd Christ Himself? yet would
it be forgiven, according to his prayer upon
the cross — ' Father, forgive them.' This I
am bound to believe, and am also absolved ;
therefore, avaunt thee, devil I for ever
away!"

Thus shall you, dear Margarita, not be-
lieve in the devil nor your own thoughts; but
'in us preachers, whom God has commanded
to instruct souls, comfort and absolve them,
as He says (Matt, xvi 19; John xx. 23);
" Whosesoever sins ye remit, they shall be
remitted." This you should believe, and not
^^uht. Now we preachers absolve and free

128

Luther's Letters to Women.

yon, in Christ's name and by his commanij
not only from this one sin, but from all th(
sina born in yon from Adam; which are Si
many and great, that God in his goodi
■will not let us see them al! and entirely, nor-
feel them thoroughly (for we could not b(
it), still less reckon them against us, if
believe in Him.

Therefore be content and comforted ; your
sina are forgiven yon. Rest boldly on this;
do not turn again to your thoughts, but listen
only to what your pastor and preacher tell
you from God's Word; do not despise their
word and comfort, — for it is Christ Himself
who speaks to you through them ; as He says,
" He that heareth you heareth Me" (Luke
s, 16). Believe this, and the devil will away,
and leave yon. But if yon are still weak in
faith, say thus : " I would willingly be firmer
in my faith, and I know well that these things
are true and to he believed. Though now I
am not sufficiently firm in faith, yet I know
that it is the pure truth." That is called
" believing unto righteousness" and salvation ;
as Christ says (Matt. v. 6) : " Blessed are

To one mmkmawiL 129

tlxe J idio hunger and thirst after righteous-

Christ oar dear Lord, who was deliyered
for onr offences, and was raised again for
our justification (Rom. ir.' 25), comfort and
strengthen joor heart in true Cauth; and be
not troubled concerning your sins.

D. Mabtdtus Luthsr.

Tkundof^ afiar E^Mpkamf, 1543.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER XLIX.

To the Electress Elizabeth of Brandenburg.

October 22, 1543.

Coacemiag a preacher's appointment.

To the most Sere7ie and High-bom Princess <ad

Lady, Frau Elizabeth, born of the royal race of

Denmark, Electress of Brandenburg, Duchess

of Stettin, Pomerania, Wittwen, &c., my moi

gracious lady and dear godmother.

GrHACE and peace in the Loid. Most serene

and high-born Princess, most gracious Lady*

Ac. ; according to the desire of Y. E. P. G^

I will Jihgently urge upon the Visitors that

they shall place another preacher at PretUn,

in the room of Jobann Fabri, whom Y. E. P. G.

has called to be court preacher, if the PasW

Sevcrin retires. I heard j-esterday that h»

refuses to go to Pelgem. But that will Booa

be known. Herewith, God be with you.

Amen.

Your Electoral Princely Grace's obedient,

WaKTISLS LlTHSB, D.
ifMrfty V*^ UtH, IMS.

LETTER L.

To the same. February 10, 1544.

Thanks fur the fulfilment of a rei^ueat.

To the moat Serene, High-horn Princess and Lady,
Frau Elizabeth, horn of the royal race of Den-
mark, Margravine of Brandenhurg, Electress
of Wittwen, my gracious lady and godmother.

GiiACE and peace. Most serene, high-born
Princess, most gracious Lady, and dear God-
mother ; I have learnt wltii hearty gladness,
from Y. E. P. G.'s letter, that you will quite
willingly — uay, even graciously — permit Herr
Johann Faber to be pastor in the town of
Prettin. Y. E. P. G. will thus have done
a good work ; for, as be bas been known
there before, and will be thankfully wel-
comed, I hope much fruit may be pro-
duced, and God give it his blessing. I am
bound and willing to serve Y. E. P. G.

132 Luther^ 8 Letters to Women.

The dear God and Father of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ be with your Electoral
Princely Grace always. Amen.

Martinus Ldtthbb.

Svmday after Dorothea, 1544.

To the Electreas Sibylla of Saawiy. 133

LETTER LI.

To the Electress Sibylla of Saxony.
March 30, 1544.

A letter of thanks and consolation.

To tite most Serene, High-horn Princess and Lady,
Fran Sibylla, bom Duchess of Jules avd Clevea,
(fee, Duchess of Saxony, Electress, Landgravine
of Tliuringia, Margravine of Meissen, and
Burgravine of Magdeburg, my gracious lady.

Geacb and peace in the Lord. Most
serene, high-born Princess, I thant Y. E. P. G.
quite humbly that you have so anxiously and
constantly inquired after my health, and how
it fares with my wife and children, wishing
me also all happiness. It fares well with us,
God be praised, and better than we deserve
ill the sight of God. That my head, however.
is not sometimes very strong is no wonder. Old
age is there, which in itself is old and cold,
iU-^hioned, sick, and weak. The pitcher
coDtiauea to go for water, till at last it breaks.

I have lived long enough. God grant me a
happy closing hour, wherein this corrupt, vile
body shall go under the earth to its kiudred,
and become the portion of worms. I consider
also that I have seen the best that I can seS'
on earth; for it seems as if things would
become worse. God help his own ! Araen.
When Y. E. P. G. tells me how wearisome it
is to you that oui- gracious Lord, Y. E. P. G.'s
husbandj should be absent, I cau well helieve
it; but as it is needful, and such absence is
for the advantage and good of the Gennan
nation and Christendom, we must bear it with
patience, according to God's will.^ If the
devil could keep quiet, we should have more
peace, and leas to do, and not suffer so much
annoyance. But we have the advantage of
possessing the dear Word of God, which com-
forts and supports us in this life, and pro-
miaes and brings us to the future Hfe of bliss.
We have also prayer, which we know (as
Y. B. P. G. writes) is pleasing to God, and
wUl be heard by Him in his good time. These
two unspeakable treasures neither the devil,
' The Elector was at tLe Diet uf Spirea.

nor the Turk, nor the Pope, nor any of his,
can have, and are therefore far poorer and
more miserable than any beggar uu earth.
We may assuredly boast and comfort our-
selves, and thank God, the Father of all mercy,
in Christ Jesus his dear Son our Lord, that
He has granted us such a dear and holy
treasure, and appointed for us unworthy, such
a jewel, through liis abundant grace ; that we
therefore should not only willingly and gladly
see and suffer the evils of this woi-ld, but
also have compassion on the blind, miserable
world, and especially on its great leaders,
that they are deprived of such grace, and not
yet found worthy of it. May God in time
enlighten them, that they also may, with uh,
see, discern, and comprehend it ! Amen,
My Kate begs to offer her poor prayers for
Y. E. P. G., and in all humility thanks Y. E. P. G.
for so graciously thinking of her. Herewith,
God be with you. Amen.

Your Electoral Princely Grace's humble,

Mart. Luthee, D.
Judioa, IBii.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTEK LII.

To the same. April 28, 1544.

Ta the most Serene, High-born Princess and Lady,
the Frau Sibylla, bom Duchess qfJiUich, So,,
Duchess of Saxony, Electress, Landgravine of
Thuringia, Margravine of Meissen, and Bur-
gravine of Magdebvrg, my gracious lady.

Grace and peace, and mj poor Pr.Nr. Most
serene, bigh-born Princess and gracious Lady,
Dr. Augustin has addressed me on behalf ol
Y. E. P. G., about the answer that I was to'
write to Y. E. P. G.'s letter. But I hope
that my answer has meanwhile come to
Dr. Augustin, with Y. E. P. G. ; for I sent it
by Captain Asmns Spiegel,^ because I had
not, and knew not, of any other messenger.
If it so happens that they should not have
come to Y. B, P. G., I will willingly answer
again. For I have heartily thanked, and
do still thank, Y. E. P. G. for your gracious
letter and favour.

' Erasmus Spiegel, Captain at Wittenberg.

To the Ekcfre$s Sibytta <^ Saxony. 1 37

We hope and praj that God will send
home our dear sovereign and most gracious
lord speedily and jojfuUj, Amen. There is
not much to be done now with the Papists,
without their consuming us with expenses,
and emptjing our purses, although they
pretend that they are willing, and yet are
not. May our Lord Jesus, whose work it is,
and who has begun it, bring it Himself to an
end, as He will do, and has hitherto done ;
otherwise it will remain undone, and nothing
good will come of it. To Him, in his mercy,
I commend V. E. P. G., together with the
dear ladies, &c. Amen.

Your Electoral Princely Grace's humble,
M. LUTHEH. D.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LIII.

•■ Wife of Jerome Baumgartner} ai
July 8, 1544.

Letter of consolation.

Grace to you, and peace in our dear
Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. Houonrable,

virtuous, and dear lady, God, who sees and
hears my sighs, knows how heartfelt is my
sorrow for your gi-ief and misfortune ; in-
deed, every one is heartily grieved for the
dear man who has so sadly fallen into
hands of the enemy. May God hear our
prayer, and that of all pious hearts ! For it
13 certain that all pious hearts pray earnestly
for him ; and assuredly such prayers will be
acceptable and agreeable to God.

Meanwhile, we must comfort ouraelvea

with the divine promises, that He will not

' Jerome Baumgartner, a aeaator of Karemberg,

had been taken prisoner by one of the FranconUa

1, Yon

abandou or forget those who are his, with
■which the Psalter abounds ; for we know
that jour lord is an upright man in the faith
of Christ, which he has worthily confessed,
and adorned by many fine fruits. Therefore
it is impossible that He should hare cast him
off; but, as He has called him through his
Holy Word to Himself, and received him into
his gracious bosom, He will keep him ever-
more in that bosom, and will daily support
him. It is the same God who has, before
this misfortune, kept him as his dear Chris-
tian and child of Hfe. He will remain the
same God to him, though He may appear
otherwise for a short time, in order to try
our faith and patience a little. He has said
(in John xvi. 20, S2) : "Ye shall be sorrow-
fiil ; but your sorrow shall be turned into
joy, which no man taketh from you." This
his promise He will keep without fail.

Besides, our sufFeiings are not so great
and bitter as were those of his dear Hon, and .
his dear mother, which should comfort and
strengthen us in our sorrows ; as St. Peter
teaches us (iPet.iii. 18): "ForChrist also hath

140 Luther's Letters to Women.

once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust."
The devil and hia rejoice in our misfortunes,
but shall bitterly enough lament that they
have so done ; and their short joy shall
become a long mourning. But we have the
glorious and great advantage, that God is
merciful and gracious to us, with all angels
and creatures ; therefore, no misfortunes of
this body can injure the soul, but rather are
useful to us ; as St. Paul says (Rom. viii. 2
" We know that all things work together for
good to them that love God." In respect to
the body, we suffer woe, and shall and must
do so ; for we should not be true Christians
did we not suffer with Christ, and had not
sympathy with sufferers.

Therefore, my dear lady, suffer and be
patient ; for you do not suffer alone, but
have many, many escellent, faithful, pious
hearts, who have great sympathy with you,
who all do according to the saying {Matt.
XXV. 36) : " I was in prison, and ye came
unto Me." Yea, truly, in great crowds wa
visit the dear Baumgartner in his prison,
that is, the Lord Christ Himself, imprisoned

To the Wife of Jerome BawmgSrtneT. 141

in the person of a true member ; and we
pray and call upon Him to liberate him, and
thus gladden the hearts of you and all of us.
May the same Lord Jesus, who calls upon
us to comfort one another, and comforts us
by hia Holy Word, comfort and strengthen
your heart by his Spirit, in steadfast patience,
until the happy end of this and all misfor-
tunes. To whom, together with the Father
and Holy Spirit, be honour and praise for
ever. Amen.

Martinus Luther, D.

Tuesday afitr the Visitation
of Man/, 1544.

iAer's Letters to Women.

LETTER LIV.

To Frau Jorger. July 13, 1544.

Account of ber Nephews.

Gbace to you, and peace in the Lord.
Honourable and virtuous lady, we have
received your dear nephews and cJiildrea,
and hope that they will be honourably and
well taken care of by the pious Magister
George Meyer. God grant them grace, that
they may study well, and become pious, as
I have good hope in them. For in these bad
times it is needful that there should be many
pious people, who wQl help us, by their good
lives and prayers, to expiate our former and
daily increasing sins, and to turn away the
chastisement which is ready to fall on our
heads. For the former idolatry of the Papacy
(which they will not yet give up), and our
ingratitude, press heavily upon ua. May the
merciful God follow after us with his Holy

To Frau Jorger. 143

Spirit, and graciously perfect the good work
He has begun in us through his Holy Word !
Amen. To whose grace I commend you ; and
pray for a blessed, short end for me, for it
is well nigh the time for my journey home,
and rest.

D. Martinus Luther.

Datum die Margarethce,
1544.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LV.

To the same. September 5, 1544.

Letter of conaolatioD.

To the Itonourahle and virtuous Lady, Dorothea
Jorger, widow, at Kappack, my weU-ioiaher
and friend.

Grace and peace in the Lord. Honour-
able, virtuous, and dear lady, with reapect to
your nephews, I expect that their preceptor,
M. George Meyer, ■will have written to you
all the circumstances. I can well believe
that you are grieved at the disunion of your
sons ; and I am truly sorry, both for their
discord and your trouble. Now, what is to
be done ? There must be misfortuneB and
crosses in this life ; by these God drives us
to his Word and prayer, that He may hear
and comfort us. Therefore, do not desist
from admonishing them, by God's Word, to
brotherly love ; and likewise earnestly pray,
that God may prosper and further with his

grace such admonitions, as He has com-
manded ua to praj and to trust in Him :
*' Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and
you shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened
to you." I would have written to them now ;
but, as they might suspect that I bad been
informed by you, I will refrain till I can say,
" I have learnt it from others ;" and then I
"will represent, as sharply as I can, what a
bad example they set ; and God grant his
blessing. Amen. My Kate and chihh-en
thank you kindly for your greeting and
good -will. Herewith, God be with you.
Amen.

Martinds Luther.

LETTER LVI.

To the Widow of George Sckulzen.
October 8, 1544.

Letter of consolation.

Gbace to jou, and peace in the Lord
Honourable and virtuous Frau Hera, and
good friend, I am grieved at your misfor-
tune, God having taken your dear husband
from you. I can well believe the pain of
such a parting ; it would not be well if it did
not give you pain, for it woidd be a sign of
cold love.

But, on the other hand, you may haTB
great comfort : First, because his departure
hence was Christian and blessed. Secondly,
because the will of God, our dear Father,
is altogether best : who gave his Son for
UB. How fitting, then, is it that we should
sacrifice our will to his, for his service and
pleasure, which is not only our duty, but
from which we have much fruit and joy !

To the Widow of George Schulzen. 147

But may He, our dear Lord Jesus Christ,
comfort you abundantly by his Spirit!
Amen. Herewith, I commend you to the
dear God.

Wednesday after Franciscus, 1544.

LETTER LVII.
To an Aged Couple. October 25, 1544.

On the death of their S'

r ^

^^H 148 Lvther's Letters fo Women.

^^^ Geaob to you, and peace in Christ, our
' Lord and Saviour. Honourable, dear, good

friends, the preceptor of your dear son of
blessed memory has begged me to write this
letter, aud advise you in the misfortune which,
as parents, you hare experienced in the death
of your son. And truly it is not to be be-
lieved that you should not be sorry ; it would
indeed not be a nice thing to hear that father
and mother were not grieved at the death of
their son. So says also the wise man, Jesus
Sirach, chap. xxii. 10, 11 : "Thou shalt mourn
over the dead, fc)r his light is extinguished ;
yet shall you not mourn much, for he is gone
to his rest."

And thus you, when you have sorrowed
and wept moderately, shall comfort yourselves
again, — nay, thank God with joy that your

son has made such a good end, and has gone
to sleep 60 softly in Christ, that there can be
no doubt that he must be sleeping sweetly
and softly in the eternal rest of Christ. For
every one is amazed at this great mercy, that
he has continued steadfast to tlie end in prg.yer8
and confession of Christ, which grace should
be more acceptable to you than if he had
flourished a thousand years in all this world's
good things and honours. He has taken with
him the greatest treasure he could attain to
ia thia life.

Therefore be comforted ; he ia well oft' in
comparison of many thousands who perish
miserably — nay, sometimes dishonourably —
and die in their sins. Therefore it were
heartily to be desired that you and all yours,
together with all of us, should, through God's
grace, so depart. He has conquered the world
and the devil, whilst we are still daily liable
to be overcome, and must be exposed to all
the dangers against which he is now secure.
You sent him to the right school, and applied
well yoiu- love and care. God help us also
hereafter. Ameii.

150 Luther's Letters to Women.

May the Lord and most high Comforter
Jesus Christ — who has loved your son better
than yourself, having first called him through
his Word, and afterwards summoned him to
Himself, and taken him from you — comfort
and strengthen you with his grace, till the
day when you will see your son again in
eternal joy ! Amen.

Martinus Luthbb, D.

Sat/u/rday after St. Lucas, 1544.

To his wife.

LETTER. LVIII.
To his Wife. July 15i5.

"Written from Leipzig, where Luther had gone with
kia BOne, from dissatis faction at the prevailing corrup-
tion of morals at Wittenberg.

Gbaoe and peace to you. Hans will tell
you every thing concerning our journey, I
am, however, not yet certain whether he
shall remain ^vith me ; but D, Caspar Cruci-
ger and Ferdinand will tell you. Ernst von
Schonfeld entertained us well at Lobnitz, and
Heinz Scherle still better at Leipzig.' I
would gladly arrange so that I need not re-
turn to Wittenberg. My heart is chilled, so
that I would not willingly stay there ; and I
wish that you would sell the garden and land,
house and farm ; then I will give back the
large house to M. G. H. And it would be
best for you to establish yourself at Ziilsdorf,
whilst I am still alive, and can help you with
' A merchant in Leipzig.

152 Luther's Letters to Women.

my salary to improve the property ; for I
hope that M. G. H. will continue to me the
salary,— at least to the last year of my life.
After my death you will not be able to bear
the four elements at Wittenberg ; therefore it
would be better to do what has to be done
during my life. Perhaps Wittenberg, with
its government, as it would seem, will get not
St. Vitus's nor St. John's dance, but the beg-
gars' or Beelzebub's, as they have begun : and
there is no one there to control or punish j
and God's Word will bo derided. Away, then,
from this Sodom ! I have Heard more in the
country than I learnt in Wittenberg ; there-
fore I am weary of the city, and will not, so
Grod help me, return there. The day after
to-morrow I travel to Merseburg, Prince
George having much begged of me to do so.
I will stroll about and eat beggar's bread
rather than torment and disturb my poor last
days with the disorderly life at Wittenberg,
and witness the loss of all my hard, precious
work. You may, if you like, let Dr. Pommer
and Mag. Philippug know this ; and perhapi
Dr. Pommer will give my good-by to Witten-

To his Wife. 153

berg, for I am bursting with anger and dis-
gust. Herewith, God be with you. Amen.

Mabtikus Luthsb.

Tueaday after WhUstmtide, 1545.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LIX.

To the same. January 25, 1546.

Lather is oa a journey to Eisleben, to arrange the
disputes betwixt the Couuta of Maasfeltl.

To be delivered to my dear Kate Luther,
at Wittenberg.

Geace and peace in the Lord. Dear
Kate, we arrired to-day, about eight o'clock,
at Halle, but did not go on to Eisleben ; for
a great Anabaptist met us, with billows of
water and blocks of ice, which covered the
country, and threatened to baptise us again.
Nor could we return, on account of the Mulda ;
so we are obliged to remain quietly at Halle,
betwixt the two waters, — not that we thirst
for it to drink, but refresh and comfort our-
selves with good Torgau beer and Rhine wine,
until the Saal have ceased raging. For,
the servants, ferrymen, and we ourselves were
alarmed, we would not trust ourselves to the
water, and terapt God, as the devil is furl-

To his Wife.

us with us, and dwells in the water-floods ;
nd prevention is better than cure ; nor is it
ecessary to make ourselves a laughing-stock
the Pope and his fellows. I should not
s,ve thought that the Saal could have made
uch a bubbling, and burst in this way over
he causeway and all.

No more now ; but pray for us, and be
dous. I hold that, had you been here, you
fould have advised us to do the same ; and
bus we should for once have followed your
dvice. Herewith, God be with you. Amen.
Martisus Lutheh, I).

At Salle, on the day of

\e Cmiveraion of SC. Paul, 1546.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LX.

To the same. February 1, 1546.

Written from Eislebeu,

To my heartily beloved wife Katherine LuAlTt

Zulsdorfian Doctoresa^ swine-vnarketian, ani

whatever else site may be.

Gkace and peace in Christ, and my oU
poor love, as before. Dear Kate, I becami
very weak on the road before reaching Eisle-
ben, for my ains. But if you had been then^
you would have said it was for the sins of the
Jews ; for we had to pass through a villaga
a little way from Eisleben where many Jew*
dwell, and perhaps they have blown cold
upon mo. There are now here in the city
of Eisleben aboye fifty Jews residing ; and it
is true that when I passed through the vil-
lage, such a cold wind came from behiud tbt
carriage on to my head through my cap, M

' Evidently an eapresaion of coutempt for Wittoi
berg.

To his Wife. 157

though it would turn my brain to ice. This
may have helped to cause my dizziness ; but
I am now, thank God, stronger.

When the main business is settled, I will
take steps to drive away the Jews. Count
Albrecht hates and no longer protects them ;
but no one yet does aught against them.
Please God, I will help Count Albrecht in the
pulpit, and leave them to their fate likewise.

Your sons left Mansfeld yesterday, as
Hans von Jene had so humbly prayed they
would. I know not what they are doing
there. If it were cold, they might help toe
to shiver here ; but now it is warm, they may
do or suflFer what else pleases them. Here-
with, God be with you, and all the household ;
and greet all our friends.

M. L., YOUR OLD Darling.

Vigilia Pv/rificationiay 1546,

Luther s Letters to Women.

LETTER LXI.
To the same. February 6, 1546.

From the same place.

To the deeply-learned lady Katkerine Luther, my
gracious wife, at Witteiihe^'g.

Grace and peace. Dear Kate, we at
here, and let ourselves be tormented, and
would gladly be away; but that cannot be^
I think, for a week. Tell Magister Philipp
that he may correct his exposition; for
has not understood why the Lord in the
Gospel calls riches thorns. Here is the school
where one may learn to understand it.' But
it dawns on me why, in the Holy Scripturea,
the thorns are always threatened with fire
therefore I wait with greater patience, that,
by God's help, I may bring matters to a good
end. Your sons are still at Mansfeld.
haTC plenty to eat and drink, and might hav<

' Luther alluilea here to the disputes he had to settle.

To his Wife. 159

leasant days, if this vexatioiis quarrel were
3ttle€L It appears to me that the devil
3offs at us; but God will laugh him to
3om. Amen. Pray for us. The messenger
in great haste.

Maktikus Luther, D.

On St. Darothy*8'day, 1546.

Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LXII.

To the same. February 7, 1546.
From the same place.

To my dear wife Katherine Luther, dodoress
aelf-tormentor, at Wittenberg ; to the hands and
feet of my gracious lady.

Gbacb and peace in the Lord. Read,,
dear Kate, St. John and the Hraall catecliism.^
of which you sometimes say, all in this book
is said of me. For you must needs take
God's cares on you, just as if He were not
Almighty, who could create ten Doctor Mar-
tinus's, if the one old one were drowned in
the Saal, or at Ofenloch, or at Wolf's Vogel-
heerd.^ Leave me in peace with your cares;
I have abetter guardian than you and all the
angels — He who lay in a manger, and hung
on a virgin's breast, but now sits at the right

' Probably alluBions to particutsr placea.

hand of tbe Almighty Father. Therefore be
in peace. Amen.

I think tiiat hell and the whole world
must be empty of all their devils, who perhaps
have all met together on my account at Eislc-
ben, 80 stiff and stubborn is the state of affairs.
There are Jews here, near fifty in a house, as
I have before written to you. They say that
at Rissdorf, near Eislcben, the place where I
was ill on my journey hitiier, nigh four hun-
dred Jew,s pass in and out. Count Albrecht,
to whom all the frontier round Eialeben be-
longs, has withdrawn his protection from any
Jews who may be seized on hia property ; yet
no one will as yet do any thing to them.
The Countess of Manafeld, widow of Solms,
is considered the protector of the Jews. I
Icnow not whether it is true ; but I have made
it strongly enough apparent to-day, if one
chooses to understand it, what my opinion is,
if it is of any use. Pray, pray, pray, and help
us, that we may do it well. For to-day I
had a mind to give full vent to my wratli,
but was restrained when the wretchedness of
my fatherland occurred to me. I have be-

Luther's Letters to Women.

come a lawyer also now ; but it will not an-
swer to them. They had better have let me
remain a theologian. If I were to come
among them, if I should iive, I might become
an ogre, who would, by God's grace, check
their pride. They give themselves airs, as
though they were God, from which they had
better desist iq time, before their godhead
becomes devildom, aa happened to Lucifer,
who could not remain in heaven on account
of his pride. Well, God's will be done. Let
M. PhiHpp read this letter; for I have not
time to write to him. We live well here, and
the Councillor sends me every day, at meal-
time, a half-stoup of Rheinfall, which is very
good. I sometimes diink it vrith my friends.
The wine of the country also is very good
here, as is likewise the Naumburg beer, ex-
cept that it seems to make me very phlegmatic
with its pitch. The devil has spoilt the beer
all over the world with hie pitch, and the
wine about you with brimstone. But here
there is pure wioe, excepting that of the
country. Know that all the letters you have
written have come here, and to-day the one

To his Wife. 163

which you wrote last Friday, with M. PhiUpp's
letter. I mention this, that you may not be
angry.

Your dear lord,

M. Luther.

The Sunday after St, Dorothy' a-day^ 1546.

164 Luther's Letters to Women.

LETTER LXIIL
To the same. February 10, 1546.

From the same place.

To the saintly, anxious-minded lady Katherine
Luther^ Doctoress and Zulesdorferiny at Witten-
berg, my gracious and dear wife,

Grace and peace in Christ. Most saintly
Lady Doctoress, we thank you kindly for
your great anxiety, which has hindered you
from sleeping; for since the time that you
have had this care for us, a fire in our
inn, close to my chamber-door, has well-nigh
consumed us ; and yesterday (without doubt
through the power of your care) a stone al-
most fell on our heads, and crushed us, as in
a mouse-trap. For in our private chamber,
during two days, lime and mortar rattled
over our heads, till we sent for workmen,
who, touching the stone — which was the size
of a large pillow, and two hands' -breadth
wide — with two fingers, it fell down. For this

we should have had to thauk your saintly
care, if the dear holy angels had not guarded
us. I am anxious lest, if you do not cease to
he so anxious, the earth may at last swallow
us up, and all the elements persecute us. Do
you thus teach the cateehlsm and belief?
Pray, and leave it to God to care, as is pro-
mised ; " Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and
He shall sustain thee" (Ps, Iv., and in many
other places).

We are now, thank God, fresh and sound,
except tliat the state of affairs gives us annoy-
ance; and Dr. Jonas is pleased to have a bad
leg, having accidentally knocked himself
against a chest : such great envy is there in
people, that he would not permit me to have
a bad leg alone Herewith, God be with
you. We would now willingly be free and
journey home, God willing. Amen, Amen,
Amen,

Your Holiuess's devoted servant,
Martiniis Luthkr.

mOfi Scholastica't-dai/, 154G.

Ghace and peace iu the Lord. Bear
Kate, we hope, God willing, to return, home
this week. God has shown ua great grace
here ; for the lords have arranged almost aJI
through their councillors, except two or three
articles, among which is, that the two bro-
thers Count Gebhard and Count Albrecht
shall become brothers again, which I take in
hand to-day, and will invite them to be my
guests, that they may speak to one another ;
for hitherto they have been dumb, and have
embittered each other with severe letters.
The young men are in good spirits, and make
excursions with fool's bells on sledges, accom-

paiiied bj the ladies ; and they masquerade
together and are merry, and among them
Count Gebhard'a son. Thus one must under-
stand that God is exauditor precum}

I send you trout, which Countess Albrocht
has given me, who is glad at heart at the
concord. Your sons are still at Mansfeld ;
Jacob Luther will take good care of them.
We eat and drink here like lords, and we are
well waited upon —indeed, too well ; so that
we might have forgotten you at Wittenberg.

D. Jonas's leg nearly became very bad ;
but there has been nothing worse than wounds
on the shin ; but God will help.

You may show all this to M. Philipp, D.
Pommer, and D, Cruciger. A report has
reached here that D. Martinus has been
carried off, as they say, at Leipzig and at
Magdeburg. Such are the fictions of your
wiseacres of country people. Some say that
the Emperor is thirty miles from hence, near
Soesl, in Westphalia ; others, that the French
are enUsting, and the Landgrave also. But

' Ueorer of prayer.

168 Luther's Letters to Women.

let people say as they list ; we will await what
God will do. Herewith, God be with you.

M. Luther, D.

At Eisleben,
on the Sunday Valentine, 1546.

THE END.

LONDON :

LBVBY AND (X)., PRINTKRS, GREAT NRW STRRKi,

nCTTBR LAJTK, B.C.

3kl

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